DECEMBER 04, 2011, Vol 61, No 24

www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY DECEMBER 4, 2011

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Touch the lives of others this Advent

NO. 24

INSIDE HOME Engaging with media Church workers learn how to do it „ Page 2

HOME Let our prayers this Risen Christ’s Advent remind us that, ukulele group

My fellow People of God, :KHQ RXU ÂżUVW SDUHQWV GHSDUWHG from the paradise of Eden (Genesis 3), the human race came to know sin, suffering, and death.

But God did not leave the human race to that fate.

Through the gift that is Christ Jesus, fully divine and fully human, God saves the human condition so that through humanity the whole of Creation may be restored to the Creator.

Advent is the time to glorify God for wanting to share togetherness with the human family – and for coming into our history by the birth of our Lord Jesus. This is what God does out of love for us!

(John 3:16) During this time, I ask you to MRLQ PH LQ UHĂ€HFWLQJ RQ WKH P\Vtery of God Incarnate, the mystery of a God that goes to His people.

How do we imitate this God and go to others in the love of Christ?

To begin with, each of us needs to follow God’s will within our own situation in life. All baptised Catholics must ask God how to care for others in their prayer by asking: “What then should we do?� (Luke 3:10) For those in the ministry of the Word of God; catechists, preachers and teachers of the Gospel as well as the Catholic tradition – “go to� others by making the teachings of Christ and his Good News accessible to people of all ages and social backgrounds.

Parents, “go to� your children by taking primary responsibility for their religious upbringing.

For those in the ministry of nurturing communities; ordained, religious, and lay community

VOL 61

like our Saviour who came to us, we need to go to others.

Nov 27 is the ÂżUVW 6XQGD\ RI $GYHQW PDUNHG E\ WKH OLJKWLQJ RI WKH ÂżUVW RI IRXU $GYHQW FDQGOHV CNS photo

leaders – “go to� others by spending your efforts to build up your communities, and do not neglect to forge relationships with people outside your own group.

Foster the spirituality of communion that strengthens our Church and offers a witness against individualism and the isolation that it brings.

Busy Catholics, who have little time for parish involvement,

“go to� others in the way of getting acquainted with your Christian neighbours. At least know some of the members of your faith-family living around you.

For those in the ministry of worship; liturgists, presiders of the Eucharist, prayer leaders of song and meditation – “go to� others by enriching the participation of those in prayer, so that all can rejoice and praise God’s presence that is

with us always, especially in the celebration of the Holy Mass.

For those in the ministry of service; social workers, counsellors, caregivers to the disabled, in¿UP DQG HOGHUO\ ¹ ³JR WR´ RWKHUV by bringing the care of Christ to people who are helpless or in distress. The challenges of modern living bring about its own anxieties, producing a new kind of poverty besides the material sort.

Ordinary Catholics can “go to� others by offering help and consolation to anyone in need.

Young people especially need to channel their energy and enthusiasm to these four works of building up the Church.

We will never exhaust the riches that we draw from the mystery of the Incarnation. Let our prayers this Advent remind us that, like our Saviour who came to us, we need to go to others.

Invite Christ into your homes, parishes, schools, and workplaces, so that your words and actions give testimony to the Church that does not exist for itself, but for the transformation of the world with the love of God. „

A boon for retirees „ Page 9

ASIA End nuclear power now!

Japanese bishops call for safe means of energy production „ Page 12

WORLD Ad of pope kissing Muslim leader Vatican slams exploitative use of pontiff’s image „ Page 13

WORLD Was Shakespeare a ‘secret Catholic’?

Vatican paper gives opinion „ Page 15

OPINION Try and govern globalisation?

Certainly worth a try

Archbishop Nicholas Chia

„ Page 19

2 HOME

Sunday December 4, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Church workers learn how to engage with media &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 2IÀFH UROOV RXW ÀUVW LQ VHULHV RI WUDLQLQJ SURJUDPPHV

By Darren Boon Church workers should not fear MRXUQDOLVWV DQG VRFLDO PHGLD SUDFWLWLRQHUV 5DWKHU &KXUFK SHUVRQQHO VKRXOG OHDUQ WR ¿QG FRPPRQ JURXQG DQG ZRUN ZLWK WKHVH people.

7KLV ZDV WKH PHVVDJH SUHVHQWHG WR VRPH SHRSOH LQFOXGLQJ SULHVWV 5HOLJLRXV &KXUFK ZRUNHUV DQG YROXQWHHUV GXULQJ D WUDLQLQJ SURJUDPPH RUJDQLVHG E\ WKH $UFKGLRFHVH &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 2I¿FH RQ 1RY 7KHUH LV QRWKLQJ WKDW &KXUFK personnel can do to stop the meGLD IURP SXEOLVKLQJ QHZV VDLG 0U 5REHUW &RQFHLFDR D &KXUFK YROXQWHHU ZLWK \HDUV RI H[SHULHQFH LQ WKH FRPPXQLFDWLRQV LQGXVWU\ What Church workers can do LV WR HQVXUH WKDW ³ZKDW \RX¶UH GRLQJ LV FRUUHFW´ DQG ³LI WKH\ >WKH PHGLD@ ZDQW WR FDUU\ LW >OHW WKHP@ FDUU\ LW´ KH VDLG 0U &RQFHLFDR ZDV VSHDNLQJ DW WKH PRUQLQJ VHPLQDU WLWOHG +HDUG RU +XUW LQ D &KDQJLQJ /DQGVFDSH

Left: Mr Robert Conceicao (left) and his son Reuben conducted the Heard or Hurt in a Changing Landscape seminar on Nov 15.

Above: Church personnel at the seminar.

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Church personnel should ‘seek opportunities’, ¿QG FRPPRQ JURXQG DQG ZRUN WRJHWKHU ZLWK VRFLDO PHGLD SUDFWLWLRQHUV ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY Nov 27 11.30am Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea: 0DVV ± &RQ¿UPDWLRQ 'HF SP &KXUFK RI 6W $QWKRQ\ 0DVV ± &RQ¿UPDWLRQ Dec 11 3.00pm Church the Immaculate Heart of Mary: 0DVV ± &RQ¿UPDWLRQ

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Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Updating of columbarium rules and contracts Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The subject of a deceased loved oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remains is a very sensitive one, and as Catholics in Singapore, we value the attention shown by our Church columbaria in ensuring that these remains receive the utmost care and respect.

It is in this context of ensuring the continued care and consideration for a deceased personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remains, that I would like to explain some upcoming changes that will be adopted to the policies and procedures of our Catholic columbaria and the actions that existing niche-holders will need to take.

After a thorough study of the operations of the 17 existing columbaria in Singapore parishes, the Archdiocese has recognized the need for a more consistent system of policies and practices governing all parish columbaria.

The scarcity of land also calls for the introduction of certain provisions into new contracts, which will include time limitations on the use of a niche.

With the active cooperation of the respective parishes and expert legal advice, a set of Terms and Conditions Governing the Use of All Parish Columbaria in the Archdiocese of Singapore was elaborated and formally approved and promulgated by me for all to observe.

A summary of the Terms and Conditions is as follows: Â&#x2021; They are mainly of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;housekeepingâ&#x20AC;? nature, setting out what

After a thorough study of the operations of the 17 existing columbaria in Singapore parishes, the Archdiocese has recognized the need for a more consistent system of policies and practices governing all parish columbaria. has already been adopted by most columbaria. Â&#x2021; They will enter into effect from 1 March 2012. Â&#x2021; They will apply to all parish columbaria (freehold and leasehold). Â&#x2021; Existing agreements will be KRQRXUHG ZLWKLQ WKH WHUPV VSHFLÂżHG Â&#x2021; In new bookings of niches, the use of the niche will be restricted to a term of 30 (thirty) years, renewable. Â&#x2021; To assure a smooth transition, parishes have not accepted any new bookings from 28 September 2011 onward (the date WKH\ ÂżUVW DJUHHG RQ WKH \HDU

term); new bookings will resume on 1 March 2012. In case of emergency, the 30-year term must be maintained while the contract can be signed later.

The introduction of measures of this nature requires diligent preparation and execution, as well as the loyal cooperation of all concerned.

The priority is to ensure that we pay the utmost respect to our loved ones.

Therefore, in the coming weeks, parishes will send a copy of the Terms and Conditions to all persons who already have the ashes of their loved ones kept at a columbarium or who have booked a niche for future use. This will be accom-

panied by a personal letter from the Parish Priest further explaining the details and what this new contract ultimately would mean to them.

It is expected that most, if not all, parishioners will continue their existing agreement. However, if, for some reason, a parishioner decides not to make further use of the columbarium, this person should contact the respective columbarium by 20 February 2012.

In such a case, by common agreement, churches will refund part of the donation that was originally made for the use of the Niche, based on a standard formula applicable to all Catholic columbaria.

To bring this exercise to a successful completion, parish columbaria need to update their records, in particular recent and accurate contact addresses. To this end, special forms will be available for the next two weekends at all parishes, including those that do not have their own columbarium.

All persons who already have a booking for a niche are NLQGO\ UHTXHVWHG WR ÂżOO RXW WKH form and hand it back as soon as SRVVLEOH WR DQ\ SDULVK RIÂżFH DW the latest by 14 December 2011.

Completed forms will then be forwarded to the respective parishes, so that columbarium records can be duly updated. The various columbarium administrators can then send out a copy of the Terms and Conditions and the special letter.

A dedicated hotline will be available from 11 Dec 2011 to 20 Feb 2012 to address any related questions.

Your assistance in this process will be greatly appreciated. Â&#x201E; Yours in Christ,

Archbishop Nicholas Chia Note: the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Franciscan Columbariumâ&#x20AC;? at St Mary of the Angels does not belong to the parish and, as such, is governed by its own Terms and Conditions. However, there is no substantial difference from those introduced by the Singapore Archdiocese.

Sunday December 4, 2011 CatholicNews

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Sunday December 4, 2011 CatholicNews

Interfaith seminar to focus on silence, meditation &16 ¿OH SKRWR

An interfaith programme focusing strongly on silence and meditation will be held over two days in January.

Common Ground, the name of the Jan 7-8 seminar, will be led by Fr Laurence Freeman, director of The World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) based in London.

The seminar, focusing on the “contemplative dimension of faith”, will also feature sharings from representatives of other religions on meditation in their traditions.

The event is organised by the Archdiocesan Council for InterReligious and Ecumenical Dialogue (IRED) and WCCM, and supported by the Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore (IRO).

The seminar “will focus on the contemplative practice of religion

Fr Laurence Freeman is scheduled to lead Common Ground, a seminar on the contemplative dimension of faith.

and how the shared experience of silence in meditation can enhance interreligious dialogue”, according to the organisers.

In their draft booklet for the event, the organisers note that “effective dialogue needs preparation. Before we sit and talk, ZH EHQH¿W JUHDWO\ IURP VLWWLQJ in the silence of the mystery that all

religions recognise as the essential nature of God or ultimate reality”.

Fr Freeman, a Benedictine monk, will speak on the Christian tradition of meditation during the programme to be held at the Catholic Junior College Performing Arts Centre.

Representatives from other religions who will also give sharings include Venerable Chuan Guan (Buddhism), Habib Syed Hassan Al-Attas (Islam), Mother Mangalam (Hinduism), and Masters Huang Xin Cheng and Chung Kwang Tong (Wei Yi) of the Taoist faith.

The seminar will feature two periods of meditation each day.

Each session will conclude with sharings from various scriptures.

Organisers say the symposium will be “participatory” in nature.

Those interested to take part in this seminar may request a registration form from commonground2012@ gmail.com, or call 8411-3130/63364815 for more information. Closing date: Dec 12. Cost: $50 per particLSDQW 5HJLVWUDWLRQ RQ ¿UVW FRPH ¿UVW VHUYHG EDVLV

HOME 77

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;pore Church needs to be more visible and vocalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ... says the apostolic nuncio during a Mass to mark the 25th anniversary of Blessed John Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visit to Singapore The Catholic Church in Singapore QHHGV WR FRQWLQXH Ă&#x20AC;RXULVKLQJ DV D community, â&#x20AC;&#x153;united and spiritually vibrantâ&#x20AC;?. ,W DOVR QHHGV WR ÂżQG ÂłQHZ strength and courage to be more vocal and visibleâ&#x20AC;? in society in order to contribute more to social ZHOOEHLQJ Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli made these comments in his homily during a Mass on Nov 20 to mark the 25th anniversary of Blessed John Paul IIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visit to Singapore.

Speaking to a packed gathering at the Cathedral of the Good ShepKHUG ZKLFK LQFOXGHG )RUHLJQ 0LQister K Shanmugam, he recalled the late pope telling the 63,000-strong FURZG DW WKH 1DWLRQDO 6WDGLXP â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Church in Singapore that I am visiting today, like your young DQG YLJRURXV QDWLRQ LV Ă&#x20AC;RXULVKing and fully aliveâ&#x20AC;Ś And it is this &KXUFK WKDW , ZLVK WR XUJH RQ WR HYHQ JUHDWHU VSLULWXDO JURZWK ´ After 25 years, said ArchbishRS *LUHOOL ÂłLW LV DSSURSULDWH QRZ WR UHĂ&#x20AC;HFW LI WKH SRSHÂśV ZLVK IRU D JUHDWHU VSLULWXDO JURZWK KDV EHHQ accomplishedâ&#x20AC;?.

Speaking during the Mass, ZKLFK DOVR FRPPHPRUDWHG WKH WK anniversary of diplomatic ties beWZHHQ WKH +RO\ 6HH DQG 6LQJDSRUH WKH QXQFLR QRWHG WKDW WKHUH DUH QRZ more Catholics in Singapore than before, parish communities are vibrant and Mass attendance high. Âł$W WKH VDPH WLPH , ZRXOG DOVR DGG WKDW XQLW\ ZLWKLQ WKH DUFKGLRcese can be strengthened,â&#x20AC;? he said. Âł)XUWKHUPRUH LW DOVR DSSHDUV to me that the Catholic Church seems to have lost her ground in WKH FLYLO VRFLHW\ ZKLFK LV EHFRPing more secularised, and moral values and principles are being undermined,â&#x20AC;? he added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The principle of the sanctity of the human life is not fully respected. The dignity of the person LV QRW DOZD\V HTXDOO\ UHFRJQLVHG for every human being. The sense RI HDV\ SURÂżW LV GLVVHPLQDWLQJ materialism, often hurting and

Foreign Minister K Shanmugam speaking after the Mass. Photo: Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli celebrating the special Mass at the cathedral with priests on Nov 20.

CATHEDRAL OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

destroying family life. Individualism and egoism seem to be on the increase in the society,â&#x20AC;? he said Moreover, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Catholic schools are striving to keep their identityâ&#x20AC;?, the nuncio observed.

Therefore, to respond to the ODWH SRSHÂśV ZLVK ÂłIRU D JUHDWHU VSLULWXDO JURZWK´ WKH &KXUFK KHUH ÂłQHHGV WR FRQWLQXH Ă&#x20AC;RXULVKLQJ DV D community, united and spiritually

The minister gave as an examSOH WKH 6LQJDSRUH +RO\ 6HH 7KLUG Country Training Programme. Âł6LQFH ZH KDYH ZRUNHG together to provide technical assistance to developing countries in the region, to help upgrade professional and linguistic skills,â&#x20AC;? said Mr Shanmugam. +H DOVR SDLG WULEXWH WR WKH Catholic community in Singapore â&#x20AC;&#x153;and its many contributions to enrich our societyâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Catholics make up about seven percent of the Singapore population today,â&#x20AC;? said Mr Shanmugam. Âł+RZHYHU WKH FRPPXQLW\ KDV DOZD\V SOD\HG DQ LPSRUWDQW UROH LQ providing education and care for the sick and underprivileged, reJDUGOHVV RI UHOLJLRXV DIÂżOLDWLRQV ´ Â&#x201E;

open their doors to Christ.â&#x20AC;?

In his speech after Mass, the nuncio noted that as one of the most developed countries in Southeast Asia, Singapore has PDGH D ³VLJQL¿FDQW FRQWULEXWLRQ´ to the economic and social advancement of the region. ³7KH +RO\ 6HH WRR LV HDJHU to do her part to contribute to the ZHOO EHLQJ RI WKLV UHJLRQ ´ KH VDLG

It appears to me that the Catholic Church â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; seems to have lost her ground in the civil society which is becoming more secularised, and moral values and principles are being undermined.

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli vibrantâ&#x20AC;?, said the archbishop. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Catholic Church needs DOVR WR ÂżQG QHZ VWUHQJWK DQG FRXUage to be more vocal and visible in the civil society, in order to contribute more and more to the VRFLDO ZHOOEHLQJ ´ KH DGGHG Concluding his homily, Archbishop Girelli said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;John Paul II came to bless Singapore and to tell Singaporeans not be afraid to

+H QRWHG WKDW RQ WKH QDWLRQDO level, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the Catholic Church has served and desires to continue serving the nation through her educational and social apostolateâ&#x20AC;?.

7KH QXQFLR VDLG KH LV ÂłFRQÂżGHQW WKDW WKH JRRGZLOO ZKLFK KDV characterised the diplomatic relaWLRQV EHWZHHQ WKH +RO\ 6HH DQG WKH 5HSXEOLF RI 6LQJDSRUH ZLOO EH strengthenedâ&#x20AC;?.

In his speech, Mr Shanmugam, ZKR LV DOVR /DZ 0LQLVWHU VDLG many Singaporeans still have â&#x20AC;&#x153;vivid memoriesâ&#x20AC;? of the tens of WKRXVDQGV RI SHRSOH ZKR DWWHQGHG the papal Mass at the National Stadium on Nov 20, 1986. Âł+LV +ROLQHVV DQG KLV PHVVDJH touched the hearts of Singaporeans of all faiths â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Catholics and non-Catholics alike â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and from all ZDONV RI OLIH ´ Mr Shanmugam noted that over the last 30 years, relations EHWZHHQ 6LQJDSRUH DQG WKH +RO\ 6HH ÂłKDYH JURZQ IURP VWUHQJWK WR strength, anchored by our common interest to advance the cause of development and peaceful coexistence amongst people of different faithsâ&#x20AC;?.

8 HOME

Sunday December 4, 2011 CatholicNews

Assisi Hospice to have new building Expansion a response to growing needs of Singapore society

By Darren Boon Assisi Hospice is looking forward to newer and bigger premises by the end of 2014 to cater to the increasing need for palliative care in Singapore.

The new hospice will be situated next to its current premises at Mount Alvernia Hospital on a 0.55 ha site. There are plans to double its inpatient, day care and home hospice care abilities.

The hospice can serve 36 inpatients at present.

Speaking to CatholicNews, Assisi Hospice’s executive director Irene Chan said the expansion “is a response to the needs in the community”.

Singapore faces an ageing population, a smaller family size and many are struggling to care for their loved ones who are ill, especially those who suffer from complicated symptoms and require psychological, emotional and spiritual attention, she said.

“We believe that, along the values of our patron saint, St Francis of Assisi, every life is sacred and should be revered … We believe no one should have to live in pain and die without dignity.

Families should be supported as our care is focused on both the patient and the family.”

The management and staff recognised “the limitations of the current infrastructure” as far as the enhancement of current services and the development of new programmes are concerned, she added.

Executive director Irene Chan: The hospice will work with local and foreign experts for training.

The current building used to be a convent belonging to the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood (FMDM) nuns, who founded and who own the hospice.

They have spent the last 42 years providing compassionate palliative care, enabling patients WR OLYH WKHLU ¿QDO GD\V LQ FRPIRUW and dignity.

Plans for expansion began in 2008 during a visit by the hospice’s patron, Ms Ho Ching, executive director and CEO of Temasek Holdings. The board and management “were encouraged to go and pursue this dream … as a response to the needs in the community”, said Ms Chan.

While the current provision of inpatient, day, and home hospice services for adults and children

The present Assisi Hospice will have separate wards for children and adults when it is expanded in 2014.

will remain, the hospice will also strengthen its bereavement service, set up common dining rooms for patients and family members, and family rooms for family members to stay over.

“We will also have a separate inpatient hospice wing for children who are very ill and their families,” Ms Chan said. There are no separate wards for children and adult patients presently and it would be ideal for the children to

have their own space as their needs are different from adults’, she said.

As the hospice also aims to be a training and research centre, space will be set aside for training purposes. The hospice “will work with local and foreign experts” to meet different training needs, said Ms Chan.

The Ministry of Health would support the hospice expansion by helping to fund the new building, training and upgrading staff

skills, and advocating the role of palliative care in Singapore, said Ms Chan.

FMDM Regional Leader Sr Barbara Pereira said the FMDM Sisters “are happy with the redevelopment plans as it allows us to continue to grow our mission of providing compassionate care to those faced with life-threatening illnesses”. darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

German Catholic community celebrates 30 years in S’pore The German-speaking Catholic community marked its 30th year in Singapore with fun, food and games, and a special Mass.

The Catholic Community of St Elisabeth held its parish celebration at the German European School on Nov 12 with German sausages and beer, Swiss Raclette Cheese, Austrian wines and home-made cakes.

The group also launched a cookbook containing more than 120 recipes in English and German, contributed by families.

More than 1,000 copies of the book have been printed. These will be sold during the community’s Christmas events as well as in stores such as the German Market Place and Swiss Butchery, and restaurants like Paulaner Brauhaus, Stammtisch and Magma German Wine Bistro.

Left: Food galore at the Community of St Elisabeth’s Nov 12 celebration.

During the Nov 12 celebration, children enjoyed themselves taking part in art and craft activi-

ties, watching a clown show and decorating lanterns to mark the feast of St Martin of Tours, which falls on Nov 11.

The saint cared for poor people and his feast is celebrated every year with a lantern parade.

On Nov 20, the community celebrated the feast of their patron, St Elisabeth of Thuringia (or St Elisabeth of Hungary) with a Mass.

Right: Fr Hans-Joachim Fogl celebrating the community’s feast day Mass.

Present at the Mass were German ambassador Angelika Viets, members of the German-speaking Protestant community, and the director of an orphanage in Kampong Thom, Cambodia, which is supported by the German Catholic community.

The St Elisabeth community is one of 130 German-speaking Catholic communities across the globe. It now has more than 1,000

members comprising about 300 families.

The community gathers for Mass, celebrated by Fr HansJoachim Fogl, at the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary’s Maris Stella Chapel in Holland Road every Sunday.

A wide range of activities for children, adolescents and adults is also offered at Fr Hans’ home.

HOME 9

Sunday December 4, 2011 CatholicNews

Some upcoming Advent and Christmas events The Church of the Holy Spirit’s Advent Art Project to raise funds for charitable purposes is back for its second year.

Parishioners are invited to use art to narrate their spiritual journey. These works will then go on exhibition for two weeks from Nov 27 at the foyer of the main church before and after all weekend Masses. Viewing at other times is by appointment through WKH SDULVK¶V FDWHFKHWLFDO RI¿FH DW 6453 6340 (ext 8) or email catechism@holyspirit.sg Artworks will be sold through silent auction and the proceeds will go to the Water One project by the Focolare Movement which aims to supply drinking water to the poor in Batam. The parish hopes to raise enough funds to purchase a water gallon transporter to deliver the drinking water.

Ukulele group to play at Christmas concert

By Darren Boon

A ukulele group from the Church of the Risen Christ will be performing at the parish’s Christmas Eve pageant.

The group, comprising retirees, joined the 9.45 am Sunday Mass choir in May. However, the musicians themselves started meeting about a year ago when some friends began gathering to play the instrument.

The group caters to those who have an interest in music but who ¿QG LW GLI¿FXOW WR PDVWHU WKH JXLtar, said Madam Christine Chew, 68, who helped to set up the group.

The ukulele, a four-string instrument, is affordable in price, The Cathedral Choir of the Ris- small enough to allow for portabilen Christ (below) will present a ity and easy to learn. The members concert titled Hope, Peace & Joy started off by learning a few chords at CHIJMES on Dec 18 at 8 pm. and they gradually discovered “the The concert includes selec- lovely sounds” the instrument can tions from Handel’s Messiah, in- produce, said Madam Chew, who spirational songs for peace and a coaches the group. choreographed medley of songs Choir mistress Esther Leong from six continents. Seats are said that the ukulele is easy to master compared to other instruments, and in just two sessions, one is “able to play and strum a simple tune”.

So far the ukulele has been providing accompaniment to one or two hymns during Sunday Mass.

As for the Christmas pageant, Ms Leong said the choir wanted a presentation different from the traditional carol-singing, and thought it would be interesting to available upon a minimum dona- include the sounds of the ukulele. tion of $50 per seat.

The group will perform carols Reservations can be made af- such as Silent Night and When a ter the 10 am Sunday Mass at the Child is Born on the ukulele.

Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, The ukulele lessons are free.

RQ D ¿UVW FRPH ¿UVW VHUYHG EDVLV The group of about 14 members meets for practice every Thursday.

The Church of St Vincent De It is almost an entire day affair as Paul will hold a concert on Dec they learn a new song, break for 23 at 8pm to raise funds for the lunch and fellowship, and spend parish’s St Vincent De Paul So- the afternoon brushing up on their ciety as well as upgrade its choir skills individually. facilities.

Madam Chew said the chalThe concert will feature sacred lenge is to get the players to harsongs and Christmas tunes per- monise together given that each formed by tenor Matthew Chua has his or her “own style, timing and soprano Teng Xiang Ting, and and standard”. But the members accompanied by Dorothy Chia. try their best to blend with one Tickets at $15 each can be other’s playing, she added. booked through actconcert2011@ “Fellowship and good bonding gmail.com Donations welcome. is our main aim and we make it very clear we are all brothers and sisters The Church of Our Lady of in Christ sharing our gifts and proPerpetual Succour’s Christus viding heavenly music for the comDominus Choir from the Sunday munity,” said Madam Chew.

6pm Mass will hold its annual “We encourage them to go forth Christmas concert on Dec 26 at and serve the community with the 8pm at the Joyden Hall at Iluma, ukulele songs they have learnt.” a shopping mall at Bugis.

In fact, two of the group’s 3UR¿WV IURP WLFNHW VDOHV ZLOO members go to St Joseph’s Home be donated to a charity. in Jurong regularly to play for its This year’s concert will feature residents. praise and worship songs, a cappelOne of them, Ms Veronica la pieces and Christmas carols. For Chang, 64, said she is glad to be enquiries, contact Jessica (9450- able to bring cheer through music.

5399) or Trisna (9181-4758).

Ms Chang, who did not have

By DARREN BOON prior music background, said

The ukulele group from the Church of the Risen Christ, which comprises mainly retirees. The group will be performing in a Christmas Eve pageant.

learning the ukulele helps her to “de-stress”, and added that she looks forward to the practice and fellowship each week.

Mr Robert Chia, 68, admits that he is a little nervous about performing at the pageant, but said that learning the instrument has “enriched my life” and “helped boost my morale”.

Another member, Mrs Constance Stanslaus, 83, said she feels that strumming the ukulele is JRRG IRU KHU ¿QJHUV DQG WKDW VXFK activity stimulates her brain.

She also enjoys the fellowship, the singing and the beautiful music, she added. darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

The group at a practice session.

and good bonding is our main aim.

‘WeFellowship encourage members to serve the community with the ukulele songs they have learnt. ’

– Madam Christine Chew, who leads the ukulele group at the Church of the Risen Christ

10 ASIA

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

CHURCH IN PAKISTAN

Pakistan to review list of obscene words VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A Pakistani tel-

ecom agency says it will review its proposed ban on â&#x20AC;&#x153;obsceneâ&#x20AC;? words, which includes the name â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jesus Christâ&#x20AC;?, in text messages on mobile phones.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority released a list of more than 1,600 words that it considered to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;vulgar, obscene or harmfulâ&#x20AC;? and ordered phone companies to block text messages containing those words. +RZHYHU DQ RIÂżFLDO IURP WKH authority told the international news agency, Agence FrancePresse, that it would review and shorten the list before issuing the ban. It did not specify a time frame.

Fr Nadeem John Shakir, secretary of the commission for social communications for the Pakistani bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; conference, told the Vatican missionary news agency Fides on Nov 21 that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the

Catholic Church of Pakistan will put pressure on the government to eliminate the name of Christ from the prohibited listâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We understand the desire to protect the minds of young people but why include the name of Christ? What is obscene? Banning it is a violation of our right to evangelise and hurts the feelings of Christians,â&#x20AC;? Fr Shakir told Fides. Âł,I WKH EDQ LV FRQÂżUPHG LW would be a black page for the country, a further act of discrimination against Christians and an open violation of Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s constitution,â&#x20AC;? he said.

In response to the outrage over the ban, the telecommunications agency cited Article 19 of the Pakistani constitution, which states that freedom of speech and expression is â&#x20AC;&#x153;subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by the law, in the interest of the glory of Islamâ&#x20AC;?. Â&#x201E; CNS

Missionary group releases â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;greenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; album LAHORE, PAKISTAN â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A Religious society in Pakistan has reOHDVHG LWV ÂżUVW HYHU PXVLF DOEXP to promote a love of the environment amid increasing concern about worsening pollution.

The St Columban Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) launched the album of â&#x20AC;&#x153;creation songsâ&#x20AC;? on Nov 12 at a ceremony at Loyola Hall in Lahore.

The album, Geeto Bari KayDQDW 6RQJ ÂżOOHG 8QLYHUVH LQcludes 10 tracks on themes which include praising creation, and a commitment to caring and accepting responsibility for damage caused to the environment.

The group is part of the Missionary Society of St. Columban which comprises priests, nuns and lay missionaries.

Bishop Sebastian Shah of Lahore, the chief guest, praised the album. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a general shortage of eco-spirituality; we are usurping instead of co-existing,â&#x20AC;? he said, lamenting an apparent lack of concern over environmental issues.

Mr Mushtaq Asad, a JPIC volunteer, said the Church needs to do more to promote awareness of green issues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have defaced our surroundings. Religious congregations are working for environmental preservation but the issue is yet to be popularised in Church circlesâ&#x20AC;?, he said.

JPIC is presently conducting a â&#x20AC;&#x153;green cornerâ&#x20AC;? project, which involves distributing and planting saplings in 10 schools, to promote gardening among students. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

Penang cathedralâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political forum PENANG, MALAYSIA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Ca-

thedral of the Holy Spirit in Penang has held a forum to encourage Catholics to exercise their right to vote and to be discerning on issues that affect their rights, as the general election is expected next year.

Several social activists and political scientists spoke to around 400 people who came for the event on Nov 19. Issues discussed included affordable hous-

ing, a widening income gap, rising prices of food and the central governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rising debt. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The social teaching of the Catholic Church is very clear about our rights and responsibilities in a secular society. These forums help remind us of the need to have a balanced spirituality and QRW D ORSVLGHG DIÂżQLW\ IRU RQO\ ULWHV and rituals,â&#x20AC;? said Fr Fabian Dicom from the cathedral. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

Asian Catholic leaders discuss social media use

Participants of the Federation of Asian Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conferences meeting in Taiwan pose for a photo. UCANEWS.COM photo HUALIEN, TAIWAN â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Asian Catho-

lic bishops met in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, to discuss how to harness social communication for their pastoral ministry.

Participants of the six-day meeting of the Federation of Asian Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conferences (FABC), which ended on Nov 19, included eight bishops, eight priests and more than 12 lay and Religious ministers from 10 countries.

Fr Stephen Cuyos from the Philippines, the main speaker, discussed various aspects of social media and guided the participants through the process of social networking, visual story-telling, virtual interaction and other online resources for pastoral ministry.

Msgr Paul Russell, the papal representative in Taiwan, urged

participants to keep updating their Church websites. Providing the latest and correct online information is necessary for effective Church work, he noted.

Bishop Wenceslao Padilla of Ulaanbaatar said the biggest problem he faces in cyberspace is not technology but the lack of Catholic terms in Mongolian. As the Mongolian Catholic Bible is still being translated, the 800 Catholics in the country have to read from a Protestant Bible during Mass, he said.

The Mongolian Church has set up its website in the largely Buddhist country, where social media is quite commonly used, he said.

Fr Robert Leong of Brunei believed that social networking in pastoral work can help solve social problems, such as the poverty

gap between local people and migrant workers. His parishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook page often uploads pictures of parish activities, hoping to strengthen connections between local parishioners and Filipino Catholic workers, he said.

Bishop Joseph Luechai Thatwisai of Udon Thani said social networking is of limited use in pastoral work in northeastern Thailand as some priests do not have a computer and many young people have left the impoverished area to work elsewhere.

In Taiwan, all seven dioceses have their own websites, said Ms Chung Jin of the information section of Taiwanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; conference. Most dioceses also promote evangelisation through their blogs and Facebook pages, she added. Â&#x201E;

Police charge bishop over nuclear protest CHENNAI, INDIA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Police have

charged an bishop and four parish priests with aiding and supporting a protest against the Koodankulam nuclear power plant in Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tamil Nadu state.

Bishop Yvon Ambroise of Tuticorin diocese said on Nov 15 that he and the priests, along with some social activists, have also been charged with illegal assembly and preventing government RIÂżFLDOV IURP FDUU\LQJ RXW RIÂżFLDO work at the construction site.

The plant is scheduled to commence operation in December. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are aware of the charge

sheets and will face the charges legally,â&#x20AC;? Bishop Ambroise said.

He said that the case is a tactic to create fear among protesters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are undeterred by the FKDUJHV ÂżOHG E\ WKH ORFDO SROLFH and the struggle will go on,â&#x20AC;? he added.

For the last two months, proWHVWHUV PDLQO\ &DWKROLF ÂżVKHUmen, have been agitating against the newly built US$3 billion nuclear power plant, built with Russian technology.

Mr Xavier Fernando, a lay leader, said that since the protest began on Sept 11, more than 8,000

people have been charged by police for protesting..

Bishop Ambroise said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were objecting to the plant from the beginning but after the Fukushima disaster in Japan, people have also understood the problems with nuclear energy.â&#x20AC;? +H FODULÂżHG WKDW WKH DQWL nuclear agitation was a peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movement and not a Church-led movement.

The bishop said he also suspected that police action was taken because of Hindu right-wing groups who are against the protest. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

Catholics remember new Indonesian hero JAKARTA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Catholics from several NGOs held a remembrance service recently at the grave of Ignatius Joseph Kasimo Hendrowahyono, a Catholic politician recently named a national hero by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Chairman of the Indonesian Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conferenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Commission for the Laity, Holy Family Bishop Yustinus Harjosusanto of Tanjung Selor, led the prayers on Nov 12 in the Kalibata heroes cemetery in South Jakarta. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kasimo deserves national

KHUR VWDWXV $V D PDMRU ÂżJXUH LQ our independence struggle, he contributed to the development of pluralism in Indonesia,â&#x20AC;? said Mr Harry Tjan Silalahi, from the Association of Catholic Graduates and Intellectuals in Indonesia (ISKA).

Kasimo showed people how to serve a nation with ethics and dignity, the former secretary-general of the now defunct Indonesian Catholic Party added.

Mr Muliawan Margadana, ISKA chairman, said Kasimo ZDV DQ LQGHSHQGHQFH ÂżJKWHU ZKR made Indonesian Catholics an in-

separable part of the nation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was one of the most imSRUWDQW ÂżJXUHV LQ WKH LQGHSHQGence struggleâ&#x20AC;? against the Dutch, he added.

Apart from being a leading ÂżJKWHU IRU LQGHSHQGHQFH .DVLPR who died in 1986, was also the founder of the Indonesian Catholic Party and the Catholic University of Atma Jaya.

He was one of seven people given national hero status by Mr Yudhoyono during a Nov 8 ceremony at the state palace in Jakarta. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Advertisement

11

12 ASIA

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Japanese bishops want an end to nuclear power SENDAI, JAPAN â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Catholic bishops in Japan said they want an immediate end to nuclear power generation.

During a Nov 10 press conference at Motoderakoji Cathedral in Sendai City, they launched a document entitled End Nuclear Energy Now: Coming to Terms with the Tragic Disaster of the Fukushima Daiichi accident.

Five bishops were present as representatives of the Catholic Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference of Japan (CBCJ). They addressed their message to â&#x20AC;&#x153;all those living in Japanâ&#x20AC;?.

In 2001, the CBCJ issued a publication which touched on the same subject. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In order to avoid tragedy, we must develop safe alternative means of producing energy,â&#x20AC;? the bishops wrote then.

The recent document points out that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;tragedyâ&#x20AC;? referred to in the 2001 message â&#x20AC;&#x153;has truly come about in the form of the incident at Fukushima Daiichiâ&#x20AC;?.

The bishops acknowledged that, if nuclear energy were to be abolished, Japan would be left ZLWK DQ HQHUJ\ GHÂżFLW DQG WKDW the problem of carbon emissions would still need to be addressed.

But they insisted that humans

$ ZRPDQ ZKR Ă&#x20AC;HG IURP WKH )XNXVKLPD 'DLLFKL QXFOHDU SRZHU SODQW DUHD VLWV DW DQ HYDFXDWLRQ FHQWUH -DSDQÂśV ELVKRSV KDYH UHOHDVHG D GRFXPHQW XUJLQJ DQ HQG WR QXFOHDU HQHUJ\ &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

have a responsibility to protect â&#x20AC;&#x153;nature and all life, which are Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creaturesâ&#x20AC;? and to pass a safe environment on to future generations.

There are 54 nuclear power stations in Japan. According to the new document, every one of those â&#x20AC;&#x153;holds within itself the danger of another enormous accident like [Fukushima Daiichi]â&#x20AC;?.

Japan has â&#x20AC;&#x153;a culture, national wisdom, and tradition of living in harmony with natureâ&#x20AC;?, and its

Shinto and Buddhist religions are also infused with a similar mentality. And â&#x20AC;&#x153;in Christianity, we also have the mentality of noble poverty,â&#x20AC;? the bishops said.

They added that their countrymen should change the way they live. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The essential thing is to modify our lifestyle, which is excessively dependent on nuclear energy; to turn that lifestyle around in its whole way of being,â&#x20AC;? they said. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

Masses at Manila church go online

3URFHVVLRQ DW WKH 0LQRU %DVLOLFD RI WKH %ODFN 1D]DUHQH &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Masses at Manilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Quiapo Church, home of the famed Black Nazarene statue and the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main pilgrimage site, are now being streamed live on the Internet.

Msgr Clemente Ignacio, rector of the Minor Basilica of the Black 1D]DUHQH WKH FKXUFKÂśV RIÂżFLDO name, said on Nov 10 that the project is currently undergoing â&#x20AC;&#x153;test broadcastsâ&#x20AC;? and is doing well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We primarily intend to reach out to OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] and devotees of the

Black Nazarene,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is not a substitute for attending Mass. Catholics still have to go to Mass in their churches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Live streaming came about as a result of requests from OFWs who are unable to attend Mass. At least it can help them nourish their faith,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Several Masses are held each day at Quiapo Church but only the liturgical services on Fridays and Sundays are being streamed live.

Friday is Quiapo Day when thousands of Catholics troop to the minor basilica to pray for miracles from the Black Nazarene.

The Internet service can be accessed on the parishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website (http://www.quiapochurch.com).

The service is just one example of the Catholic Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference of the Philippines utilising the Internet for evangelisation.

Another project that has aroused public interest attention is Visita Iglesia Online which seeks to help Filipinos observe Catholic Lenten rites, especially those living overseas.

Some bishops and priests are also writing blogs to spread the Gospel message. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

WORLD 13

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Ad of pope kissing Muslim leader slammed VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hours after the Vatican condemned an Italian ad campaign that depicted Pope Benedict XVI kissing a Muslim leader, the Italian fashion house Benetton withdrew the photo.

The campaign is titled Unhate and features doctored images of supposedly antagonistic world leaders in kissing scenes. The Vatican called offensive the image of Pope Benedict embracing Sheik Ahmad el-Tayeb, president of alAzhar University in Cairo, who announced the suspension of dialogue with the Vatican earlier this year.

The ads were unveiled on Nov 16, and a few hours later Vatican spokesman Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi registered a strong protest. He condemned what he called â&#x20AC;&#x153;a completely unacceptable use of the image of the Holy Father, manipulated and exploited in the context of a publicity campaign for commercial endsâ&#x20AC;?.

Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said the Benetton ad was a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;completely unacceptable useâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of the popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s image.

Shortly afterwards, the image was gone from the website of the Unhate Foundation. The Italian news agency ANSA reported that a company spokesman said it had withdrawn the image.

Fr Lombardi said the image represented â&#x20AC;&#x153;a serious lack of respect for the pope, an offence to the sentiments of the faithful and a clear demonstration of how fundamental rules of respect for people can be violated by advertising, in order to attract attention through provocationâ&#x20AC;?.

On Nov 17, the Vatican said it had instructed its lawyers to take action to block circulation of the photo-montage, â&#x20AC;&#x153;including in the mass mediaâ&#x20AC;?, in Italy and in other countries.

In the past, Benetton has employed shocking images in its advertising campaigns. One ad in 1991 depicted a priest kissing a nun.

Other images in the current campaign portray President Barack Obama kissing Chinese leader Hu Jintao and Israeli Prime Minister %HQMDPLQ 1HWDQ\DKX HPEUDFLQJ Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority. Â&#x201E; CNS

Canadians urged to safeguard their religious freedoms OTTAWA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Although Canada has traditionally had a healthy relationship between Church and state, Catholics need to remain alert to protect religious freedom, said Archbishop J Michael Miller of Vancouver, British Columbia.

A secularist agenda â&#x20AC;&#x153;basically wants to privatise religion and leave it restricted to the private sphereâ&#x20AC;?, Archbishop Miller said in a mid-November interview from Vancouver.

The archbishop described a number of circumstances in Canada that require vigilance: Â&#x201E; The encroachment of various human rights commissions on religious institutions or on the rights of their leaders to publicly profess Christian doctrine. Â&#x201E; The imposition of mandatory school programmes that are contrary to Catholic teaching. Â&#x201E; The forcing of marriage commissioners in some provinces to conduct same-sex ceremonies

Archbishop J. Michael Miller of Vancouver has warned about a secularist agenda in society.

against their religious convictions. Â&#x201E; The forcing of health care professionals to participate in or refer patients for abortion. Â&#x201E; And the ordering of pharmacists to dispense morning-after pills against their consciences.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rights are innate,â&#x20AC;? Archbishop Miller said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They belong to us because we are human beingsâ&#x20AC;? who are made â&#x20AC;&#x153;in the image and likeness of Godâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You are not giving me my IUHHGRP RI UHOLJLRQ ,ÂśP HQMR\LQJ it because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a human person,â&#x20AC;? he said, noting that religious freedom existed prior to the state.

The archbishop said some people, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have begun referring to â&#x20AC;&#x153;freedom of worshipâ&#x20AC;? instead of â&#x20AC;&#x153;religious freedomâ&#x20AC;?. This change in language is troubling, he said, because religious freedom is broader than mere freedom of worship.

A traditional or Catholic understanding of religious freedom includes the right to worship, whether in private or in groups; it implies the right to choose a religion and to profess it publicly, and to disseminate it in private and publicly, through institutions such as churches and schools, the archbishop said. Â&#x201E; CNS

UK court: Church liable for clergy crimes MANCHESTER, ENGLAND â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A British court has ruled that the Catholic Church can be held legally liable for the crimes of abusive clergy.

The Nov 8 ruling by the High &RXUW LQ /RQGRQ IRU WKH ÂżUVW WLPH GHÂżQHG LQ %ULWLVK ODZ WKH UHODtionship of a priest to his bishop as that of an employee to an employer, instead of seeing the priest as effectively self-employed.

This means that a bishop and a diocese can be punished for

the crimes of a priest. Survivorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; groups hope that it will also mean that many people who claim to have been abused by clergy will be able to claim compensation more easily.

The case involves a 47-yearold mother of three who claims she was repeatedly sexually assaulted by a priest while living in a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home in the 1970s.

The court was not asked to MXGJH WKH WUXWK RI WKH DOOHJDWLRQV EXW ZDV VSHFLÂżFDOO\ DVNHG DV D

preliminary hearing on the case, to rule on the question of whether the â&#x20AC;&#x153;relationship between a Catholic priest and his bishop is akin to an employment relationship.â&#x20AC;?

Bishop Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth said he accepted that a bishop should be held to account when he has behaved negligently in dealing with abusive priests, but said the diocese was â&#x20AC;&#x153;aware of no other organisation which can be held liable for the actions of its RIÂżFH KROGHUV LQ WKLV ZD\´ Â&#x201E; CNS

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Arthritis affecting pontiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sources close to 84-year-old Pope Benedict XVI told the Vatican Insider news agency that the pontiff is suffering from arthritis in his right leg and now uses a cane while walking in his private rooms in the Vatican.

The condition, however, has not impeded his ability to walk or climb stairs, the sources said.

The popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health was brought into spotlight in October when the Vatican announced he would begin using a â&#x20AC;&#x153;moving platformâ&#x20AC;? during Mass in St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basilica to avoid walking down the long nave dressed in heavy liturgical vestments.

The use of the new platform was not in response to a medical

condition or recommendation, said Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi, but rather at the request of the sometimes fatigued pontiff.

Pope Benedict plans to unGHUWDNH ÂżYH LQWHUQDWLRQDO WULSV before the end of the year, mostly to Europe. Next year, the pope has scheduled only two trips so far, to Cuba and Mexico.

The Vatican Insider further reported that papal staff have proposed reinstating the use of the gestatorial chair, the shouldercarried chair used by pontiffs for centuries until it was abolished after the Second Vatican Council.

The pope is reported to have JHQWO\ EXW ÂżUPO\ UHMHFWHG WKH SURposal. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

14 WORLD

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

In Benin, pope stresses reconciliation In his three-day trip, he also reached out to AIDS sufferers, emphasised evangelisation, and signed a document on pastoral strategies for Africa COTONOU, BENIN â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pope Benedict XVI urged African Catholics to witness the hope of the Gospel and make the Church a model of reconciliation for the entire continent.

The Church must be â&#x20AC;&#x153;attentive to the cry of the poor, the weak, the outcastâ&#x20AC;?, the pope said at a Mass on Nov 20 for more than SHRSOH ZKR ÂżOOHG D VWDdium in Cotonou, Benin. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would like to greet with affection all those persons who are suffering, those who are sick, those affected by AIDS or by other illnesses, to all those forgotten by society. Have courage! The pope is close to you in his thoughts and prayers,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The pope also stressed the urgency of evangelising and said the Church must make a special effort to reach those â&#x20AC;&#x153;whose faith is ZHDN´ DQG ZKR WKLQN VHOÂżVK VDWLVfaction and easy gain is the goal of human life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Church in Benin has received much from her missionaries; she must in turn carry this message of hope to people who do not know or who no longer know the Lord Jesus,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message was aimed beyond Benin, a small West African country with a population of nearly 3 million Catholics out of a total population of nearly 9 million. He came to Africa to unveil a document, Africae Munus (The Commitment of Africa), that outlined pastoral strategies and urged Catholics to become â&#x20AC;&#x153;apostles of reconciliation, justice and peaceâ&#x20AC;? across the troubled continent.

At all his public events, Afri-

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;

I would like to greet with affection all those persons who are suffering, those affected by AIDS, to all those forgotten by society. Have courage!

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pope Benedict XVI

The pope is surrounded by children dancing and singing as he visited St Rita Church in Cotonou, Benin, on Nov 19. He was in the West African nation to present the conclusions of the 2009 Synod of Bishops for Africa. CNS photos

cans â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including many pilgrims who came from neighbouring countries â&#x20AC;&#x201C; gave the pontiff a lively welcome, blending song, dance and prayer in a spirit of religious celebration. The smiling pope clearly appreciated the reception.

One encounter saw the pope surrounded by several hundred school-

children, who accompanied him in a rhythmic procession to a parish church. In a talk, the pope told the children to ask their parents to pray with them. Later he pulled a rosary from his pocket and asked the young people to learn how to pray it. Each child was later given a rosary.

On Nov 19, the pope travelled

to the coastal city of Ouidah, a former slave trading post on the Atlantic, to sign his follow-up document to the 2009 Synod of Bishops for Africa (see other story).

In a brief talk before the signing, the pope said that in the face of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s problems, â&#x20AC;&#x153;a Church reconciled within herself and among all her members can become a prophetic sign of reconciliation in societyâ&#x20AC;? and help guide the struggle against â&#x20AC;&#x153;every form of slaveryâ&#x20AC;? in the modern world.

Ouidah is known as a centre of voodoo practices in West Africa, and in a meeting with Catholics there, the pope underlined the need to reject customs incompatible with Christianity. Understood correctly, he said, the Christian faith â&#x20AC;&#x153;liberates from occultism and vanquishes evil spirits, for it is moved by the power of the Holy Trinity itselfâ&#x20AC;?.

He also encouraged Catholics to defend the institution of the family and the Christian understanding of marriage. Parents should transform family life through the prayer and by transmitting values to their children by their own example, he said.

In a Ouidah church, Pope Ben-

edict prayed at the tomb of Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, who worked for many years with the future pope in the Roman Curia. The pope said that over the years, the two had met many times, engaged in deep discussions and prayed together.

Addressing diplomats, civil authorities and religious representatives also on Nov 19 in Cotonou, the pope said Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s challenges UHĂ&#x20AC;HFW ZLGHU LVVXHV FRPPRQ WR DOO humanity, including scandals and injustice, corruption and greed, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;too much violence which leads to misery and deathâ&#x20AC;?.

He urged world leaders to put the common good at the centre of their policies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From this place, I launch an appeal to all political and economic leaders of African countries and the rest of the world. Do not deprive your peoples of hope!

Do not cut them off from their future by mutilating their present!â&#x20AC;?

He cautioned the international community against viewing Africa solely as a place of problems and failures or in terms of vast resources to be exploited.

Relations between Christians and Muslims in Benin are generally good, and representatives of Islam were among those present at the Cotonou meeting. The pope emphasised that â&#x20AC;&#x153;everyone of good senseâ&#x20AC;? understands the need for interreligious dialogue today and rejects the attempt to justify intolerance or violence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To use the revealed word, the sacred scriptures or the name of God to justify our interests, our easy and convenient policies or our violence, is a very grave fault,â&#x20AC;? he said. Â&#x201E; CNS

Continent-wide Year of Reconciliation VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The wide-ranging document on the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future in Africa that the pope signed explored the themes discussed at the 2009 Synod of Bishops for Africa.

The text offered what it called â&#x20AC;&#x153;guidelines for missionâ&#x20AC;? in virtually every pastoral area, including the sacraments, social justice and interreligious dialogue.

The pope said the Church should lead the way in promoting respect for human dignity and OLIH DW HYHU\ VWDJH ÂżJKWLQJ DJDLQVW economic imbalance and environmental degradation, providing health care to those with AIDS and other diseases, educating the young and reconciling people in places of ethnic tension.

2QH VSHFLÂżF SURSRVDO ZDV IRU D continent-wide Year of Reconcili-

ation to beg Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forgiveness for â&#x20AC;&#x153;all the evils and injuries mutually LQĂ&#x20AC;LFWHG LQ $IULFD´ DQG IRU WKH UHFonciliation of people who have been hurt in the Church and in society.

The document also addressed discrimination against women.

Women and girls have fewer opportunities than men and boys in Africa, and their dignity and essential contributions to the family and society are often unappreciated, the pope said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Church has the duty to contribute to the recognition and the liberation of womenâ&#x20AC;? he said.

He called women the â&#x20AC;&#x153;backboneâ&#x20AC;? of African church communities.

The document reminded men to be faithful to their wives and to make a real contribution to the upbringing of their children. In an apparent reference to polygamy,

it urged men to reject traditional practices â&#x20AC;&#x153;contrary to the Gospel and oppressive to womenâ&#x20AC;?.

It said African countries rightly expect outside assistance in dealing with their problems, but at the same time must themselves implement political, social and administrative justice at home.

On ecology, the document said private business and government groups have exploited resources in a way that causes pollution and GHVHUWLÂżFDWLRQ The document said Catholic relations with Muslims were a mixed picture across Africa; in some countries, members of the two faiths get along well, while in others, Christians are treated like â&#x20AC;&#x153;second-class citizensâ&#x20AC;?. It asked Church leaders to work through

The pope signs a document on the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future in Africa at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Ouidah, Benin.

patient dialogue with Muslims towards juridical and practical recognition of religious freedom.

The document warned that witchcraft is enjoying a revival and asked bishops to face the challenge of Christians who have D ³GXDO DI¿OLDWLRQ´ WR &KULVWLDQLW\ and traditional African religions.

,W FDOOHG RQ ELVKRSV WR ÂżQG D correct response to the growing popularity of African independent churches, which have adopted elements of traditional African culture. It distinguished between those churches and religious sects, which it said were leading people of good faith astray. Â&#x201E; CNS

WORLD 15

Sunday December 4, 2011 CatholicNews

‘If you persecute Christians, you won’t get aid’ British PM warns countries LONDON – British Prime Minister

David Cameron has signalled a shift in emphasis in Britain’s aid policy by announcing that countries that mistreat Christians and minority groups may have their aid withdrawn.

Speaking to BBC presenter Andrew Marr on Oct 30, he said, “British aid should have more strings attached, in terms of ‘do you persecute people for their faith or their Christianity?’ or ‘do you persecute people for their sexuality?’

We don’t think that’s acceptable.”

He added that “Britain is now one of the premier aid givers in the world. We want to see countries that receive our aid adhering to proper human rights, and that includes how people treat gay and lesbian people”.

Mr Cameron was speaking on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show at the end of a Commonwealth leaders summit in Australia where African countries had failed to heed his call for an end to anti-homosexuality laws in 41 member nations.

,W ZDV DOVR WKH ¿UVW WLPH KH KDV spoken about the plight of Christians abroad.

Mr Neville Kyrke-Smith, Director of Aid to the Church in Need in Britain, said Mr Cameron’s comments were “an important step forward”.

Lord Alton, the crossbench member of the House of Lords, said )RUHLJQ 2I¿FH 0LQLVWHUV KDG EHHQ “very shocked by the asphyxiation of the ancient churches in the Middle East under the Arab Spring”.

He added: “I do not want to see a reduction in aid, but we should be more diligent. If the government is at last waking up then I will be cheering.”

He added that while Pakistan was the biggest recipient of aid, “virtually none of it gets through to the Christians, who are often the poorest... Pakistan has undoubtedly, by its failure to reform blasphemy laws and protect Christians, and by the way it treats non-Muslim minorities, been found wanting”. CATHOLIC HERALD

Shakespeare was ‘secret Catholic’ VATICAN CITY – There is “little

after the Bard of Avon’s recorded doubt” that William Shakespeare death in 1616, Anglican Archdeawas a Catholic who was forced to con Richard Davies wrote, “He hide his faith in Protestant Eng- died a papist,” a pejorative term land while leaving hints about his Protestants used to refer to Cathofaith throughout his vast body of lics. work, said an opinion piece in the The editorial said that while Vatican newspaper. there is legitimate debate about Taking a cue from renewed who was truly behind the Shakespeculation about speare name, “there &16 SKRWR Shakespeare’s true is little doubt about identity sparked another question by the movie, regarding the life Anonymous, of Shakespeare: his L’ O s s e r v a t o r e convinced adherRomano wrote, ence to the Catholic “There may be faith”. questions regarding Shakespeare’s his identity, but not work, it said, “is full his religious faith.” of open references The Nov 18 to the Catholic relipiece said that this gion”. These referview was at least ences are especially partly shared by 1847 painting of the Bard. evident in the play, the leader of the Hamlet, it said. worldwide Anglican CommunThe editorial also said the arion, Archbishop Rowan Williams gument that Shakespeare lived a of Canterbury, who said in a de- OLIH ³ÀHHLQJ DQG GHQRXQFLQJ WKH bate at a literary festival last May bloody persecution that Elizabethat Shakespeare “probably had WKDQ (QJODQG LQÀLFWHG RQ LWV VXEa Catholic background and had jects that were following the beCatholic friends”. liefs of their fathers” was worthy It also pointed out that shortly of further serious study. CNS

British Prime Minister David Cameron seen here with his wife Samantha. &16 ¿OH SKRWR

16 WORLD

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Special structure for Anglicans joining US Catholic Church BALTIMORE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A new ordinariate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; functionally similar to a diocese â&#x20AC;&#x201C; will be created on Jan 1 to bring Anglicans into the US Catholic Church, announced Washington Cardinal Donald W Wuerl during the annual meeting of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on Nov 15.

Cardinal Wuerl also said 67 Anglican priests have submitted their dossiers seeking ordination in the Catholic Church, and 35 of those have received initial approval from the Vaticanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

That means they can move to the second stage of approval. This includes a criminal background check, psychological evaluation and recommendations from the Catholic bishop where they live and from their Anglican ecclesiastical authority, he said.

Cardinal Wuerl told reporters later that Anglican parishes with a total of about 2,000 members have so far asked to become part of the Catholic Church through the process established in 2009 when Pope Benedict XVI issued the apostolic constitution, Anglicanorum Coetibus.

The Vatican named Cardinal Wuerl to head an ad hoc committee for the constitutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s implementation. The constitution authorises the creation of an ordinariate to bring in Anglicans, or Episcopalians as they are called n in the US, who seek to leave their tradition and join the Catholic Church but retain elements of the

Washington Cardinal Donald W Wuerl said a new ordinariate for former Anglicans wishing to join the Catholic Church will be created on Jan 1.

Anglican liturgy and traditions.

The process was established to accommodate whole congregations who choose to join the Catholic Church after they have become disaffected with the Anglican Church over recent changes, such as the ordination of women, the ordination of openly gay priests, and blessing of same-sex marriages and partnerships.

The US ordinariate will be the second one created under Anglicanorum Coetibus. The Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham was established for England and Wales in January this year.

It is led by Msgr Keith Newton, a former Anglican bishop who is married and who was ordained a Catholic priest. It includes about 1,000 individuals in 42 communiWLHV ,WV SULHVWV LQFOXGH ÂżYH IRUPHU

Anglican bishops, according to background information distributed by the USCCB. Cardinal Wuerl did not say where the Anglican communities seeking to become Catholic are located. Two such parishes have already completed the transition, one in Fort Worth, Texas, and the other in Bladensburg, Maryland, which were accepted in ceremonies in September and October.

They will become a part of the new ordinariate when it is established.

Many details remain to be decided about how the ordinariate will function, the cardinal added.

Parishes in the ordinariate will have the option of using either The Book of Divine Worship, a Vatican-approved liturgical text based upon Anglican liturgies, or the Roman Missal used in other Catholic churches.

Questions raised by bishRSV IURP WKH Ă&#x20AC;RRU DIWHU &DUGLQDO Wuerlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presentation touched on issues such as whether the newly ordained priests of the Anglican ordinariate might be available to help out in other parishes and vice versa, such as for priests on vacation; and whether parishioners of Catholic churches would be free to participate in the Anglican parishes.

The answer to both questions was yes. Priests working across ordinariate lines, so to speak, would need permission from the bishop or ordinary, as currently is required when priests work in other dioceses, Cardinal Wuerl said. Â&#x201E; CNS

Charter of human rights for Internet?

VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The world needs a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Charter of Human Rightsâ&#x20AC;? for WKH ,QWHUQHW VD\V DQ LQĂ&#x20AC;XHQWLDO Rome-based Jesuit magazine.

With individuals abusing the freedom of expression, companies potentially exploiting computer XVHUV IRU ÂżQDQFLDO JDLQ DQG UHpressive regimes blocking information from citizens, the world needs such a charter, says an editorial in La Civilta Cattolica, a journal reviewed by the Vatican before publication. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What the law permits or proKLELWV RIĂ&#x20AC;LQH PXVW DOVR EH WKH FDVH online,â&#x20AC;? says the editorial released on Nov 17.

At present, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;only widespread international consensusâ&#x20AC;? on online material to be censored regards child pornography and cyberterrorism, the article says.

It notes that the Internet is a global public good that should be accessible to all and respectful of the rights of others.

With repressive regimes restricting access to information, democratic governments should work to guarantee access to the Internet and adopt general principles to ensure network use respects universal human rights, it says.

The article notes that the Council of Europe was holding a conference from Nov 24-25 on the Internet, human rights and freedom. In preparation for the meeting, the European Council of Ministers drafted 10 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Internet Governance Principlesâ&#x20AC;? that La Civilta Cattolica says should be â&#x20AC;&#x153;included in an international treatyâ&#x20AC;? protecting the Internet and access to it.

The principles include protecting democracy and respect for the law on the Internet; promoting greater involvement in Internet governance, including by users; protecting the universal nature of the Internet and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity. Â&#x201E; CNS

Cultural competence for bishops BALTIMORE, USA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; After a yearlong pilot process involving six dioceses, the US bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Committee on Cultural Diversity in the &KXUFK KDV XQYHLOHG ÂżYH JXLGHlines for intercultural competence for Church leaders.

They are to enhance ministersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; knowledge and skills to help them engage with cultures and deal with cultural relations. They were developed over three years in response to the bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pastoral priority on recognition of the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural diversity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Diversity in the Church is happening,â&#x20AC;? said Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, California, chairman of the cultural diversity

committee. Cultural competencey skills â&#x20AC;&#x153;will assist pastoral ministers to make it happen more effectively in their communitiesâ&#x20AC;?.

The guidelines, issued on Nov 13, are: Frame issues of diversity theologically in terms of the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s identity and mission to evangelise; seek an understanding of culture and how it works; develop intercultural communications skills in pastoral settings; expand oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledge of the obstacles that impede effective intercultural relations; and foster ecclesial integration/inclusion in Church settings, with a spirituality of reconciliation and mission. Â&#x201E; CNS

WORLD 17

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Israeli religious leaders share their challenges

Pope Benedict XVI with members of the Israeli Council of Religious Communities: (from left) Melkite Catholic Archbishop Elias Chacour of Haifa; Rabbi Ratzon Arusi, chief rabbi of Kiryat Ono; Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem; Rabbi Yonah Metzger, chief Ashkenazi rabbi of Israel; Anglican Bishop Suheil Dawani of Jerusalem and Sheikh Mouafak Tarif, head of the Druze community (on extreme right). CNS photo VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Religious leaders in the Holy Land are â&#x20AC;&#x153;acutely awareâ&#x20AC;? of their limitations in trying to bring peace to the Middle East, a member of the Israel Council of Religious Communities told the pope.

However, â&#x20AC;&#x153;we are aware of the power of faith ... and our responsibility to do more for reconciliation among our local communities,â&#x20AC;? said Archbishop Fouad Twal, Latin Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem.

He was part of a delegation that included members of the council and Israeli government representatives. They visited the pope on Nov 10.

The pope had met with council members when he visited Nazareth in 2009 and invited them to the Vatican.

Patriarch Twal told the pope that though the problems the council faces â&#x20AC;&#x153;are numerous, many resulting from a seemingly intractaEOH FRQĂ&#x20AC;LFW RU D FXOWXUH RI YLROHQFH even so we, as members of this religious council, do not have the right to despair ... or to give upâ&#x20AC;?.

Sheik Mohamad Kiwan, head of the 340 Muslim imams serving mosques in Israel, asked the pope to help promote peace in the land so many religions consider

sacred, a land â&#x20AC;&#x153;where at the same time, the shofar is blown, the church bells ring and the voice of the muezzin calls to prayerâ&#x20AC;?.

Israeli Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yonah Metzger said the group intends â&#x20AC;&#x153;to prove, once and for all, that we can live in peaceâ&#x20AC;?.

Sheik Mouafak Tarif, head of Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Druze community, said that promoting brotherhood and rejecting violence are objectives held in common by the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s religions. The trip to Rome gave the religious leaders the opportunity they needed to discover more about their commonalities and to build friendships, he said.

Pope Benedict told the group that â&#x20AC;&#x153;in our troubled times, dialogue between different religions is becoming ever more impor-

are aware of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Wepower of faith and our responsibility to do more for reconciliation among our local communities.

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Archbishop Fouad Twal, Latin Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem.

tantâ&#x20AC;?. Religious leaders need to teach their faithful that a right relationship with God is a force for peace, which must be obvious in the way believers live and interact with others, he said.

After the papal meeting, members of the council held a news conference. Rabbi Ratzon Arusi, chief rabbi of Kiryat Ono, Israel, said that in addition to trying to lead people to faith, Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s religious leaders are trying to promote â&#x20AC;&#x153;a belief in peaceâ&#x20AC;?

DPRQJ SHRSOH ZHDU\ RI FRQĂ&#x20AC;LFW Melkite Archbishop Elias Chacour of Haifa told reporters, â&#x20AC;&#x153;there are still many problems to settleâ&#x20AC;? but promoting good relations among religious leaders is a step in the right direction.

The Israel Council of Religious Communities was established in 2007 and comprises leaders of 18 different religious communities, including Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze, Samaritan and Bedouin leaders.

The Christians on the council represent the Greek, Armenian, Coptic and Ethiopian Orthodox communities, the Anglicans and the Latin-rite, Armenian, Maronite and Melkite Catholic communities, as well as the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. Â&#x201E; CNS

Pope to light up Christmas tree with iPad VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; With a tap on

an iPad, Pope Benedict XVI will light the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest electronic Christmas tree in the Italian town of Gubbio without having to leave his home in Vatican City.

The City of Gubbio and the Diocese of Gubbio announced at a news conference on Nov 12 that the pope would light the tree via a video link set up by the Vatican Television Centre.

The tree-lighting ceremony takes place on the evening of Dec 7, the eve of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

From his apartment in Vatican City, the pope will turn on the tree using an application on the iPad 2.

Before lighting the tree, the pope will send a video message to the citizens of Gubbio thanking the volunteers on the committee who organised the event and who

have been responsible for setting up the tree for decades.

The electronic tree extends more than 600 m upon the face of Mount Igino near Gubbio, and uses more than 7,600 m of electrical cable. Built in 1981, it was recognised in 1991 by the Guinness World Records as the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest Christmas tree and stays lit until the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. Â&#x201E; CNS

18 LETTERS/OPINION

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

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GUEST EDITORIAL

Behind the slickness of advertising

By Christopher Carstens UNDERSTANDING popular culture requires mastery of one fact: There is advertising almost anywhere you look.

Those ads are cleverly designed to make you want things you do not have, to make you unhappy with what you do have, and to make you imagine that, if you bought some new shiny thing, your life would be much happier.

Sadly, the more we settle into this ad-driven consumerist worldview, the more we stay locked in LPPDWXUH VHOÂżVKQHVV For example, I own a perfectly good nine-year-old car. It runs well, is comfortable and completely paid off. Unfortunately, it is not â&#x20AC;&#x153;coolâ&#x20AC;?.

Each day, I see car ads on TV, on the Internet and in the papers.

Everywhere I look, it seems, I see the image of some car I would rather have than the one I am driving.

Those are cool cars, the sort of cars other people would desire.

They are cars that shout that their drivers are strong, elegant, sporty, tasteful, and yes, rich.

If I had that car, I think, people would envy me as I drove down the street.

Enter the dark impulse of false pride. I do not just want a car that meets my needs; I have that already. I want a car that other people would want, one that will make people wish they had my car.

Really, this is the basic middle school mentality. If the coolest kids in eighth grade are wearing green hats, all the other kids want green hats. The kids who cannot afford green hats feel left out, and the kids who have them feel superior.

Now, we all know that this is SDWKHWLF DQG ZH ÂżJXUH SHRSOH ZLOO outgrow that immature thinking

People may be happy driving their old cars on the streets but advertising tries to convince them they need newer, more fashionable models. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

Ads are designed to make you want things you do not have, to make you unhappy with what you do have, and to make you imagine that, if you bought some new shiny thing, your life would be much happier. sometime before their junior year in high school.

But, no, we keep lusting after things that are no more meaningful than green hats. Fancy cars; new-fangled mobile phones; H[WUD ODUJH Ă&#x20AC;DW VFUHHQ 79V H[clusive high heel shoes and thousand-dollar wedding dresses, to name a few, are all just grown-up versions of eighth grade status markers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; green hats for adults.

Sadly, the commodity-driven culture keeps many people stuck

in eighth grade forever.

Whatever this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s green hat may be, if I have one and you do not, I may begin to imagine that I am somehow more worthy, more deserving than you.

Popular culture claims that we are happiest when we get what we want. But our Christian faith teaches that often the things we want are not what would be best for us.

What we should want most is to be grateful, obedient children of God. Every other thing is a distraction.

How might we resist the messages these ads present?

Perhaps we might begin by asking ourselves: What desire is WKLV DG FDOOLQJ IRUWK" 'R , ÂżQG P\self envying the people shown in the advertising? Do I imagine that, if I had the advertised product, people would envy me? Do I want to be admired for what I own, or do I want to follow Jesus? Â&#x201E; CNS Carstens is a psychologist in San Diego, California

Love beyond naivetĂŠ, romance SEVERAL years ago, a Presbyterian minister I know challenged his congregation to open its doors and its heart more fully to the poor. The congregation initially responded with enthusiasm and a number of programmes were introduced that actively invited people from the less-privileged economic areas of the city, including a number of street people, to come their church.

But the romance soon died as coffee cups and other loose items began to disappear, some handbags were stolen, and the church and meeting space were often left messy and soiled.

A number of the congregation began to complain and demand an end to the experiment: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t what we expected! Our church isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t clean and safe anymore! We wanted to reach out to these people and this is what we get! This is too messy to continue!â&#x20AC;?

But the minister held his ground, pointing out that their expectations were naĂŻve, that what they were experiencing was precisely part of the cost of reaching out to the poor, and that Jesus assures us that loving is unsafe and messy, not just in reaching out to the poor but in reaching out to anyone.

We like to think of ourselves as gracious and loving, but, the truth be told, that is predicated on an overly-naĂŻve and overly-romanticised notion of love.

We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really love as Jesus invites us to when He says: Love each other as I have loved you! The tail-end of that sentence contains the challenge: Jesus doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say, love each other according to the spontaneRXV PRYHPHQWV RI \RXU KHDUW QRU ORYH HDFK RWKHU DV VRFLHW\ GHÂżQHV love, but rather: Love each other as I have loved you!

And, for the most part, we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t done that: Â&#x2021; We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t loved our enemies, nor turned the other cheek and reached out to embrace those who hate us. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t prayed for those who oppose us. Â&#x2021; We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forgiven those who hurt us, nor forgiven those who have murdered our loved ones. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, in the midst of being hurt, asked God to forgive the very people who are hurting us because they are not really cognizant of what they are doing. Â&#x2021; We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been big-hearted and taken the high road when weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been slighted or ignored, nor at those times have we let understanding and empathy replace bitterness and our desire to withdraw. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let go of our grudges. Â&#x2021; We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let ourselves be vulnerable to the point of risking humiliation and rejection in our offers of love. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t given up our fear of being misunderstood, of not looking good, of not appearing strong and in control. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t set out barefooted, to love without security in our pockets. Â&#x2021; We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t opened our hearts enough to imitate Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; universal, non-discriminating embrace, nor have we been able to stretch our hearts to see everyone as brother or sister, regardless of race, colour, or religion. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stopped nursing the silent secret that our own lives and the lives of our loved ones are more precious than those of the rest of the world. Â&#x2021; We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t made a preferential option for the poor, havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t brought the poor to our tables, and havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t yet abandoned our propensity to be ZLWK WKH DWWUDFWLYH DQG WKH LQĂ&#x20AC;XHQWLDO Â&#x2021; :H KDYHQÂśW VDFULÂżFHG RXUVHOYHV IXOO\ WR WKH SRLQW RI ORVLQJ HYHU\thing for the sake of others. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ever really laid down our lives for our friends â&#x20AC;&#x201C; nor, especially, for our enemies. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been willing to die for the very people who oppose us and are trying to crucify us. Â&#x2021; We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t loved with pure intention in our hearts, without somehow seeking ourselves within our relationships. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let our hearts be broken rather than, however subtly, violate someone else. Â&#x2021; We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t walked in patience, giving others the full space they need to relate to us according to their own inner dictates. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been willing to patiently sweat blood in order to be faithful. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t waited in patience, in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good time, for Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s judgment on right and wrong. Â&#x2021; We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t resisted our natural urge to judge others, to not impute motives. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t left judgment to God. Â&#x2021; Finally, not least, we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t loved and forgiven ourselves, knowing that no mistake we make stands between us and God. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t trusted *RGÂśV ORYH HQRXJK WR DOZD\V EHJLQ DQHZ LQVLGH RI *RGÂśV LQÂżQLWH PHUF\ We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t loved as Jesus loved.

After his wife, Raissa, died, French Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain edited a book of her journals. In the Preface, he describes her struggle with the illness that eventually killed her. Severely debilitated and unable to speak, she struggled mightily in her last days.

Her suffering both tested and matured Maritainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own faith. Mightily sobered by seeing his wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sufferings, he wrote: Only two kinds of people think that love is easy: saints, who through long years of selfVDFULÂżFH KDYH PDGH D KDELW RI YLUWXH DQG QDwYH SHUVRQV ZKR GRQÂśW NQRZ what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re talking about. Â&#x201E;

OPINION 19

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Govern globalisation?

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certainly worth a shot The Vaticanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call for a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;global public authorityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is worth taking seriously, says Stephen Kent

By Stephen Kent THE world supposedly received its seven billionth person on the last day of October.

Whether welcomed as a blessing by adoring parents in a First World nation or dreaded as a burden by impoverished parents in a Third World country, that little personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quality of life will depend greatly upon this: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every individual and every community shares in promoting and preserving the common good.â&#x20AC;?

That is stated as a presupposition in a bold new document that the Vatican released on Oct 24, that says â&#x20AC;&#x153;orientation towards a world authority becomes the only horizon compatible with the new realities of our time and the needs of humankindâ&#x20AC;?.

Although titled Towards Reforming the International Financial and Monetary Systems, the GRFXPHQW E\ WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQcil for Justice and Peace is more than an economic blueprint. It speaks to a need for the governance of globalisation.

The Vatican council proposed a â&#x20AC;&#x153;global public authorityâ&#x20AC;? to deal with the challenges and opportunities presented by globalisation and an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world.

Peace, disarmament, human rights, food security and environment are among other concerns.

It is to be a supranational institution, not imposed but rising from a universal understanding of the common good. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a matter of an authority with a global reach that cannot be imposed by force, coercion or violence, but should be the outcome of a free and shared agreement DQG D UHĂ&#x20AC;HFWLRQ RI WKH SHUPDQHQW and historic needs of the world common good,â&#x20AC;? the council said.

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S worth trying. Not much else has worked in recent history.

The United Nations has failed in many respects to live up to its promise. International discussion JURXSV VXFK DV WKH 7ULODWHUDO &RPmission, are seen as the manifestation of an international conspiracy that is trying to create a one-world totalitarian state, or at least a New

International Economic Order.

The idea for a global public auWKRULW\ LV DGYDQFHG E\ WKH &KXUFK but it is not sectarian. Its foundation is the social encyclicals of popes over last four decades.

Viewed from the American paradigm, the concept may be KDUG SUHVVHG WR ÂżQG DSSURYDO â&#x20AC;&#x153;The public logic of economic organisation in our country is based on a sense of individualism that does not adequately correspond to human needs and personal dignityâ&#x20AC;? &DUGLQDO )UDQFLV ( *HRUJH RI &KLFDJR ZURWH LQ KLV ODWHVW ERRN *RG LQ $FWLRQ +RZ )DLWK LQ *RG &DQ $GGUHVV WKH &KDOOHQJHV RI WKH :RUOG â&#x20AC;&#x153;If conceived on economic bases alone, society dissolves into a conglomeration of atomised individuals whose relationships with one another are characterised PRUH E\ FRQĂ&#x20AC;LFW WKDQ E\ FRRSHUDtion or integration,â&#x20AC;? he wrote.

The Vaticanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision is not likely to be realised in our lifetimes.

But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth trying.

Not much else has worked in recent history.

In a mastery of understatement, WKH SRQWLÂżFDO FRXQFLOÂśV GRFXPHQW says that â&#x20AC;&#x153;a long road still needs to be travelled before arriving at the creation of a public authority with universal jurisdictionâ&#x20AC;?.

It is not likely to occur in our lifetimes but perhaps by the time Baby Seven Billon has grandchildren, it may be â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as the document puts it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;possible to transform not only institutions but also lifestyles and encourage a better future for all peoplesâ&#x20AC;?.

Then Baby Seven Billion and friends may live in a bettermanaged world, so â&#x20AC;&#x153;they ought to have a keen sense of belonging to the human family, which means sharing in the common dignity of all human beingsâ&#x20AC;?. Â&#x201E; The writer was editor of archdiocesan newspapers in Omaha and Seattle in the US.

People in Nice, France, demonstrating against the G-20 summit and globalisation on Nov 1.

CNS photo

20 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

5HWXUQLQJ *RG¡V ORYH WKLV $GYHQW

By Louise McNulty 0$1< SHRSOH H[SHULHQFH D KRO\ longing for God, and it can become particularly poignant during $GYHQW 0V 0DU\ .D\ +HPHQZD\ DQ astronomer and senior lecturer in $XVWLQ 7H[DV SLFNV XS D FRS\ RI 7KH 5HHG RI *RG HYHU\ $GYHQW The spiritual classic by Caryll +RXVHODQGHU SUHVHQWV D GRZQ WR earth portrait of Mary, the mother RI *RG DQG VKRZV KRZ VKH ZDV D UHHG WKURXJK ZKLFK *RGœV PXVLF FRXOG IUHHO\ SOD\ ³,W WDONV RI 0DU\ ZDLWLQJ ´ VDLG +HPHQZD\ RI WKH ERRN ³$QG LW UHPLQGV PH WKDW RXU ZKROH FXOWXUH >DW WKLV WLPH RI WKH \HDU@ LV ZDLWLQJ EXW H[SHFWDQW IRU PRUH WKDQ D FKLOG ³:HœUH ZDLWLQJ IRU WKLQJV ZH VKRXOG EX\ GHFRUDWH PDNH $OO WKH ¾VKRXOGVœ %XW ZH VKRXOG EH ZDLWLQJ IRU WKH IXO¿OPHQW RI RXU OLIH WKH ELJ ZDLW IRU WKH FRPSOHWLRQ RI RXU OLIH ´ ³7KH 5HHG RI *RG´ DOVR UH-

PH RI PLQGV KHU WKDW $GYHQW LV D WLPH RI KR KDV JLYLQJ EDFN ORYH WR *RG ZKR KDV JLYHQ VR PXFK WR PDQNLQG HQZD\ D\ 2QH ZD\ WKDW 0V +HPHQZD\ roug ugh tries to express that love is through LWXUUJ\ KHU ZRUN RQ KHU SDULVKÂśV OLWXUJ\ ULHVV W R FRPPLVVLRQ ZKLFK VKH VDLG WULHV WR rel eliiâ&#x20AC;&#x153;get people to think about thee reliWR VHHH JLRXV DVSHFW >RI $GYHQW@ DQG WR VHH ´ IURP WKH GLIIHUHQFH RI WKLV VHDVRQ´ IURP HDU DOO RI WKH RWKHU WLPHV RI WKH \HDU Throughout the year, she helps WR WUDLQ QHZ OHFWRUV DQG (XFKDULVtic ministers, and she feels strongly about the importance of leading RWKHUV WR *RG E\ H[DPSOH â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think you should let people NQRZ WKDW \RX DUH &DWKROLF ´ VKH said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and be enough of a good and happy person so that people ZLOO TXHVWLRQ ZKHUH \RXU KDSSLQHVV FRPHV IURP´ 0U -RH &DPSEHOO D UHWLUHG WHDFKHU DQG VWRUH RZQHU LQ $QQ $UERU 0LFKLJDQ DJUHHG WKDW H[pressing love for God involves giving an example to others and VKRZLQJ ORYH IRU RXU IHOORZ PDQ

&16 ÂżOH SKRWR

A kindergarten FKLOG OLJKWV WKH ÂżUVW Advent candle.

UVW , KDYH Âł, EHOLHYH WKDW Âż ÂżUVW WR FRPH WR NQR RZ DDQG QG XQGHU WR NQRZ XQGHUVWDQG *RG EHWWHU ´ KH VDLG Âł<RX FDQÂśW UHVSRQG >ZLWK ORYH@ WR ZKDW \RX GRQÂśW NQRZ ´ He tries to enhance his understanding by reading The Collected :RUNV RI 6W -RKQ RI WKH &URVV Âł&RPLQJ WR NQRZ DQG ORYH God more deeply helps us respond more deeply and surrender our ZLOO WR KLP ´ KH UHĂ&#x20AC;HFWHG DGGLQJ

WKDW DV RXU ORYH IRU *RG JURZV WKH PRUH WKDW ZH SUD\ VR ZLOO RXU ORYH for others increase and our desire IRU WKHLU VDOYDWLRQ ³7KDWœV WKH ZD\ LW VKRXOG EH not just me and God, but me and *RGœV SHRSOH ´ KH VDLG 0U &DPSEHOOœV HIIRUWV WR JURZ closer to God include spiritual UHDGLQJ DQG ZULWLQJ DWWHQGLQJ daily Mass and adoration, and SUD\LQJ WKH URVDU\

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re waiting for things we should buy, decorate, make, but Advent is a time of giving back love to God, who has given so much to mankind.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

2XU GHSHQGHQF\ RQ *RG¡V JUDFH &16 ¿OH SKRWR

By Fr Lawrence E Mick $6 :( EHJLQ WKH VHDVRQ RI $GYHQW ZH UHDG IURP WKH ÂżQDO VHFWLRQ RI WKH %RRN RI ,VDLDK 6FKRODUV WHOO XV WKDW WKLV SRUWLRQ RI WKH ERRN ZDV QRW ZULWWHQ E\ ,VDLDK KLPVHOI EXW E\ D ODWHU DXWKRU ZKR ZDV D GLVFLSOH RI ,VDLDK This author asks an unusual question: Âł:K\ GR \RX OHW XV ZDQGHU /RUG IURP \RXU ZD\V DQG KDUGHQ RXU KHDUWV VR WKDW ZH IHDU \RX QRW"´ It almost sounds as though the prophet is blaming God for the peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sinfulness and hardness of heart!

The line raises a fundamental question that has puzzled believers for centuries: :KDW LV WKH UHODWLRQVKLS EHWZHHQ *RGÂśV DOPLJKW\ SRZHU DQG RXU IUHH ZLOO" There is no question that God can do ZKDWHYHU +H ZDQWV WR GR DV ORQJ DV LW LV QRW VHOI FRQWUDGLFWRU\ %XW *RG FRXOG IRUFH XV WR GR WKH ULJKW WKLQJ LI WKDW ZDV WKH ZD\ *RG ZDQWHG WKH XQLYHUVH WR ZRUN Instead of maintaining that kind of FRQWURO KRZHYHU *RG KDV JLYHQ XV IUHH ZLOO :H DUH DEOH WR FKRRVH WR IROORZ *RGÂśV ZLOO RU WR WXUQ DZD\ IURP *RG /RRNLQJ DURXQG RXU ZRUOG ZH PLJKW WKLQN WKDW *RG PDGH D EDG FKRLFH +XPDQ

Figures of Mary and Joseph in front of an empty crib. Advent reminds us that God has come to share our human life in Jesus.

EHLQJV VR RIWHQ XVH WKHLU IUHH ZLOO WR HPEUDFH HYLO %XW LI ZH GLG QRW KDYH IUHH ZLOO ZH FRXOG QRW UHDOO\ ORYH *RG RU RQH DQRWKHU $ ORYH WKDW LV IRUFHG LV QR UHDO ORYH DW DOO In ages past, many people had a very GLUHFW YLHZ RI *RGÂśV FRQWURO RI WKH XQLverse: ,I D VWRUP FDPH XS *RG VHQW LW ,I D SHUVRQ GLHG *RG WRRN KLP RU KHU ,I WKHUH ZDV D GURXJKW *RG ZDV SXQLVKLQJ SHRSOH ,I WKH UDLQV FDPH *RG UHOHQWHG

:H IUHTXHQWO\ VHH VXFK YLHZV LQ WKH %LEOH 7RGD\ KRZHYHU ZH DUH PXFK PRUH DZDUH RI QDWXUDO SURFHVVHV WKDW FDXVH ZHDWKHU FKDQJHV DQG GLVHDVH DQG GHDWK :KLOH ZH VWLOO EHOLHYH WKDW *RG LV LQ FKDUJH RI WKH XQLYHUVH ZH UHFRJQLVH WKDW *RG QRUPDOO\ ZRUNV WKURXJK WKHVH QDWXral processes rather than by direct interYHQWLRQ $W WKH VDPH WLPH WKH ZRUGV RI ,VDLDK UHPLQG XV WKDW ZH DUH GHSHQGHQW RQ *RGÂśV JUDFH :H GR QRW KDYH WKH SRZHU WR FUHDWH D UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK *RG RQ RXU RZQ LW LV possible only because God offers us the JUDFH WR HQWHU LQWR D ORYLQJ IULHQGVKLS God does not harden our hearts, but it LV WKH JUDFH RI *RG WKDW VRIWHQV RXU KHDUWV *RG GRHV OHW XV ZDQGHU IURP WKH ZD\ RI WKH /RUG EXW *RG DOVR FRQVWDQWO\ VHHNV WR EULQJ XV EDFN 'XULQJ $GYHQW WKH UHIUDLQ RI RQH UHVSRQVRULDO SVDOP VD\V Âł/RUG OHW XV VHH \RXU IDFH DQG ZH VKDOO EH VDYHG ´ $V VXFK $GYHQW UHPLQGV XV WKDW *RG KDV FRPH WR VKDUH RXU KXPDQ OLIH LQ -HVXV :KHQ ZH VHH *RGÂśV IDFH LQ -HVXV ZH DUH GUDZQ WR *RG DQG WXUQ DZD\ IURP VLQ Â&#x201E; Fr Mick is a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, USA, and a freelance writer

He also attends a Bible study VHVVLRQ HDFK ZHHN $ WUDYHO DJHQW IURP &X\DKRJD Falls, Ohio, Ms Coralie Fabijanic confesses that she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel she GRHV HQRXJK WR VKRZ KHU ORYH IRU *RG EXW VKH LV KDSS\ WR NHHS WU\LQJ â&#x20AC;&#x153;I try to go to Mass every day, EXW , IHHO WKDWÂśV PRVWO\ IRU P\ RZQ JRRG ´ VKH DGPLWWHG Âł$QG , JR WR adoration as often as I can, but not DV RIWHQ DV , VKRXOG ´ â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just feel that I should be doing a lot more, especially along WKH OLQH RI SHUVRQDO SUD\HU ´ VKH VDLG Âł1RW WR DVN IRU WKLQJV´ EXW WR JURZ ÂłFORVHU WR *RG´ Â&#x201E; CNS McNulty is a freelance writer in Akron, Ohio, USA

FOOR FOR THOUGHT

Remembering RXU ÂśĂ&#x20AC;UVW ORYH¡

By Carole Norris Greene IN THE Book of Revelation (2:4-5), the Church at Ephesus is told, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yet I hold this against you: You have lost the love you had at ÂżUVW 5HDOLVH KRZ IDU \RX KDYH IDOOHQ 5HSHQW DQG GR WKH ZRUNV \RX GLG DW ÂżUVW ´ While the message is sobering, it is also encouraging, for it gives a formula for guarding DJDLQVW DQ\ LQGLIIHUHQFH WR *RGÂśV JLIW RI VDOYDWLRQ ,W LV ÂżWWLQJ WKHUHIRUH WR EHJLQ WKH $Gvent journey by recalling the excitement of the HDUO\ &KULVWLDQV ZKR ZHUH FRXQWHUFXOWXUDO LQ ZHOFRPLQJ &KULVW DV WKHLU ORUG DQG VDYLRXU DQG WKHQ UHPHPEHULQJ WKRVH WLPHV ZKHQ ZH WRR KXQJHUHG IRU WKH WKLQJV RI *RG EHIRUH DOO HOVH :KDW LV WKLV ³¿UVW ORYH´ WKDW -HVXV FLWHG" ,W LV WKH ORYH WKDW ZH ÂżUVW KDG IRU *RG ZKHQ ZH UHĂ&#x20AC;HFWHG RQ WKH PDJQLWXGH RI ZKDW -HVXV did in taking His place on the cross for our sins and sparing us the hell of eternal separation IURP *RGÂśV LQH[KDXVWLEOH ORYH Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a love for the things of God â&#x20AC;&#x201C; His ZRUG +LV SHRSOH +LV PLVVLRQ Âą +LV ZLOO DERYH DOO RWKHU FRQVLGHUDWLRQV ,Q VKRUW ZH PXVW RQFH DJDLQ PDNH *RG ÂżUVW LQ RXU OLYHV Â&#x201E; Greene is associate editor of the Faith Alive! series

FEATURE 21

Sunday December 4, 2011 CatholicNews

Safeguarding the integrity of universe &16 ¿OH SKRWR

Smoke rises from a chemical company in North America. Anyone who reads the news would know the magnitude of the global environmental crisis.

By Anne Lim TO CARE for Creation, we must embrace our need for metanoia – for a radical change in our consciousness, in the way we perceive the world that we live in.

This is an ongoing process that begins with us, with you and me, in community.

7KH JUHDWHVW GLI¿FXOW\ ZH IDFH is not that we are unable to accept what scientists have been saying about the worst environmental crisis of our times. It is not that we are blind to the havoc wreaked by the forces of Nature, as in the recent devastating earthquake in 7XUNH\ DQG XQUHOHQWLQJ ÀRRGV LQ neighbouring Thailand.

The bells are tolling loud and clear for all to hear. Anyone who has even glanced at news headlines in the past decades will not fail to realise the magnitude of the global environmental crisis.

No, the greatest problem is not that people are unaware of the dangers of climate change – increasing pollution to our air, soil and water, or the losses from our Earth’s fastdiminishing biodiversity.

The greatest challenge we face has to do with the soul’s capacity for connecting with one’s sacred origins. To be able to reach deeply into the meaning of our existence is to come close to connecting with our God source.

The basic issue, according to the late American priest Fr Thomas Berry (1914-2009) is understanding our place and role in the universe. It is about how we humans relate to the Earth.

A prophet of our age, Fr Berry was a scholar, teacher and writer whose vision and study of human and Earth history helped “open up Catholicism to be present to all of creation and to be concerned

for its future” (Introduction, The Christian Future and the Fate of Earth by Thomas Berry, ed. Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim).

How did we end up in such a devastating situation, where “the glory of the human has become the desolation of Earth”, Fr Berry postulates.

It is because man has distorted the order of the universe by making himself the centre or “the supreme referent” of the universe. This has profoundly disturbed the delicate balance of life on our planet.

What, then, is the solution? It is to recognise that “the primary value rests, not with the human, but with the larger community within which the human comes into being”.

“This larger community has given to the human everything that the human possesses, both physically and spiritually. The special gifts bestowed upon the human are given, not primarily for the human but for the perfection of the entire universe,” explains Fr Berry.

We need to appreciate the reality that human beings are part of a single integral community, rich in diversity and including all other living beings on Earth.

Hence, our role and ultimate concern should be that of safeguarding the integrity of the universe upon which the human depends for his very existence.

Above all, we humans are FRPSHOOHG WR ³UHÀHFW RQ WKH QXminous origin from which the universe and every being in the universe comes into being, is sustained in being, is moved to action, DQG LV EURXJKW WR LWV IXO¿OPHQW´ The writer is a parishioner of the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary with a special interest in Creation Spirituality.

22 FOCUS

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

23

24

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S STORY:

After Jesus had come down from a mountain, a leper came up to Him and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.â&#x20AC;?

Jesus immediately reached out His hand and touched the sick man. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will do it,â&#x20AC;? He said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be made clean.â&#x20AC;? And the man was healed from that moment.

But Jesus added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;See that you tell no one, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.â&#x20AC;?

Jesus continued travelling, and when he reached the city of Capernaum, a centurion came up to Him and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, suffering dreadfully.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will come and cure him,â&#x20AC;? Jesus said.

But the centurion answered, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Go,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and he goes; and to another, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Come here,â&#x20AC;? and he comes; and to my slave, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Do this,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and he does it.â&#x20AC;?

Jesus was impressed with the centurion. He said to those who were with Him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.â&#x20AC;?

Then Jesus looked at the centurion, and said to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.â&#x20AC;?

The centurion returned home to discover that his servant was healed at the same time that Jesus had spoken.

When Jesus arrived at the home of Peter, He discovered Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother-in-law very sick with a high

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

St Cuthbert Mayne Cuthbert Mayne (1544-1577) was raised as a Protestant and trained under his uncle, who was a priest who conformed to the Church of England. When he was in his late teens, Cuthbert was ordained a minister, even though he had no desire to be one and had not been properly trained for the vocation.

While attending St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College in England, he knew that he believed in the teachings of Catholicism. He turned away from Protestantism and spent the next three years studying theology, after which he became an ordained priest and a missionary.

He found himself in the middle of political intrigue and religious persecution, and was arrested for teaching the Catholic faith. He was sentenced to death and was considered one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, who are honoured by the Church on Oct 25.

St Cuthbert is also honoured on Nov 27. Â&#x201E;

fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her. She was then able to get out of bed and was able to wait on Jesus as her guest.

Later that same night, many people brought their friends and relatives who were sick, and Jesus healed them all. Jesus cleansed those who were possessed by evil spirits by speaking a word to them.

On a day not long after, Jesus got into a boat with his disciples. A terrible storm arose and tossed the boat so severely that the men thought it was going to sink. They woke up Je-

sus, who was sleeping peacefully. Âł:K\ DUH \RX WHUULÂżHG 2 \RX RI little faith?â&#x20AC;? He said.

Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves, and the storm disappeared, and even His disciples could not believe what had just happened. Â&#x201E; Read more about it: Matthew 8 Q&A 1. Why was Jesus impressed by the centurion?

2. What was Jesus doing during the storm?

WORDSEARCH: Â&#x201E; MOSES Â&#x201E; CAPERNAUM Â&#x201E; CENTURION Â&#x201E; HOME Â&#x201E; PARALYZED Â&#x201E; TOUCHED Â&#x201E; LORD Â&#x201E; TERRIFIED Â&#x201E; PETER Â&#x201E; POSSESSED Â&#x201E; LORD

Bible Accent:

Â&#x201E; STORM

The Catechism of the Catholic Church declares the four Gospels to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;the heart of all the Scripturesâ&#x20AC;? (No. 125). There were three stages in the formation of the Gospels: 1) the life and teaching of Jesus; 2) the oral tradition; and 3) the written Gospels.

The catechism also tells us that the Gospels â&#x20AC;&#x153;were written by PHQ ZKR ZHUH DPRQJ WKH ÂżUVW WR KDYH WKH IDLWK DQG ZDQWHG WR share it with othersâ&#x20AC;? (No. 515).

Because the authors of the Gospels wrote down what they saw, heard or discovered about the life of Jesus, we have a beautiful record of our saviour from His birth to His death and resurrection.

As we enter the season of Advent, we should remember everything that Jesus did for us, and read more about Him in the Gospels. Â&#x201E;

Â&#x201E; WORTHY

PUZZLE: Rearrange the following books of the Bible so that WKH ODVW OHWWHU RI RQH QDPH LV WKH ÂżUVW OHWWHU RI WKH next name. Example: Jude, Ezekiel.

One of the names will not be used. Hint: The last VKDOO EH ÂżUVW Isaiah Luke Malachi Revelation Amos Nahum Samuel Judges Hosea Answers to wordsearch:

By Joe Sarnicola

Answers to Puzzle: Revelation, Nahum, Malachi, Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, Samuel, Luke.

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON 25

Sunday December 4, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

EVENT SUBMISSIONS We welcome information of events happening in our local Church.

Please send your submission at least one month before the event.

Online submissions can be made at www.catholic.sg/webevent_form.php RETROUVAILLE WEEKEND If you are serious about making your marriage work, this programme could be worthwhile for you. Weekends on Mar 23-25, Jun 22-24, Sep 28-30 2012; T: 6749 8861; Register W: http://helpourmarriage.sg CHANGE IN MASS TIMINGS NOVENA CHURCH From Jan 1, Sunday Mass timings at 7am, 9am & 5.30pm. Tagalog Mass every 2nd and 4th Sundays at 11am. No changes to weekday Mass timings.

December 1 WORLD AIDS DAY MASS 7pm: Come together as a Catholic family to pray for People Living with HIV/AIDS.

By Catholic AIDS Response Effort.

At Blessed Sacrament Church.

Friday December 2 to Sunday December 4 WOMEN OF FAITH: A RETREAT FOR WOMEN 9.30am (Fri)-5.30pm (Sun): A 3-day semidirected retreat for women to meditate on and be inspired by women of faith LQ WKH %LEOH $OVR D WLPH WR UHVW UHĂ&#x20AC;HFW and discover your own true beauty in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence. One-to-one spiritual direction offered. Cost: $105 (non-aircon), $180 (aircon). By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling.

At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd).

T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc2664@gmail.com December 6 WORLD AIDS DAY FORUM 7-9pm: Theme Jesus Heals â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Share in His Healing Ministry. Share and learn how we can reach out to People Living with HIV/AIDS with Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love and help them live with dignity. Listen to what the other faiths are doing. By Catholic AIDS

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

Saturdays November 26 RCIY@CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING 3pm: For youths aged 15-23 years.

T: 9853 5334; E: rciyctk@gmail.com Thursdays December 1 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL 7.45pm: At Church of St Michael.

T: 6291 9272; E: lilipll@singnet.com.sg Sunday February 5 2012 RCIA@CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR 7.30-9.30pm: At Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. With welcome night on Jan 30. T: 9671 8216 (Christina), 9630 3276 (Edward), 9760 0038 (Bob). Forms available at church secretariat.

Response Effort. At Blessed Sacrament Church Damien Hall. Register T: 6353 5440; E: administrator@care.org.sg December 8 FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 11.30am-1pm: Prayers and rosary followed by Eucharist. Confessions available. Please bring along last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prayer and hymn booklets. At Church of Sts Peter and Paul (225A Queen St).

December 8 FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 11.45am: Rosary and prayers in Tamil followed by Mass in English. Celebrant: Fr Gerardus Suyono, SSCC. At Blessed Sacrament Church.

Saturday December 10 and Sunday December 11 A PLAY ON THE LIFE OF ST IGNATIUS 7pm (Sat), 3pm (Sun): Turning Points, a play by Church of St Ignatius on the

life of St Ignatius as part of the churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jubilee celebrations. Free admission with tickets. Tickets available E: tickets.stignatiusplay@gmail.com Saturday December 10 COMPASSION FATIGUE: WHEN YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE GOT NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE 10am-12pm: Compassion fatigue is a debilitating weariness brought on by caring for people who are suffering.

Left unattended, it can lead to burnout and depression. International speaker Karl D. LaRowe, M.A., LCSW, will teach techniques on how to recharge and replenish energy. Cost: $15. By Clarity Singapore. At National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (MPH 1, #04-88 at The Central,6 Eu Tong Sen Street, above Clarke Quay MRT). T: 9710 3733; E: lightingtheway@clarity-singapore.org; W: http://www.clarity-singapore.org Sunday December 11 INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD: ADVENT SUNDAY RETREAT 9.30am-4.30pm: One-day silent retreat of SUD\HU DQG UHĂ&#x20AC;HFWLRQ LQ SUHSDUDWLRQ IRU WKH coming of Christ. Retreat Director: Fr A Ponnudurai, SJ. Cost: $30 (with lunch).

By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). Cost: $40.

T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc2664@gmail.com; Friday December 16 to Sunday December 18 ROMAN CATHOLICISM 201 7pm (Fri)-1pm (Sun): 3 day Catholic apologetics seminar. Learn the art of explaining why you are Catholic. Topics include Catholics and Protestants, differences and similarities, apologetics after Vatican II, the spirit of the liturgy, the Theology of the Body and many more.

By Apostolate for Catholic Truth.

At Choice Retreat House (47 Jurong West St 42). Cost: $40. T: 9649 3983 (Andrew); E: andrewkong@me.com; W: http://www.catholic.sg/act December 17 TOWARDS INNER FREEDOM WITH CHOICE THEORY 2-5pm: By Sr Louisa Lim, fdcc.

Cost: $20. By Lifesprings Canossian

IN MEMORIAM MAY THEY REST IN PEACE Fourth Anniversary While we remain here In loving memory of on our earthly shores No one knows for sure, of course When we will receive WKDW ÂżQDO FDOO From now till we meet you in that promised land We will always remember you as we say good-bye with a heavy heart.

Always remembered PEREIRA HILARY by Janet, Jeremiah, Jason and LEOPOLD all loved ones.

Departed: Nov 29, 2007

Ninth Anniversary In loving memory of

Third Anniversary In loving memory of

NELLY JAMES LIM HELEN TAN KENG HOE Departed: Nov 22, 2008 Departed: Dec 5, 2002 Dearest Memories of good Mummy/Mama, days we have shared We thank you for together weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll cherish the years we shared Thoughts of you The love you gave, linger on as a dull The way you cared ache in our hearts Forget you, The Lord knows best we never will. when He took you home for eternal rest. Lovingly remembered by children, Fondly remembered grandchildren and by all loved ones. loved ones.

Second Anniversary In loving memory of

BENEDICT OEN BOON LIM Departed: Dec 10, 2009

Lord, at your passion love did conquer fear, Now share that triumph with his soul so dear Banish his sorrow, let your light shine O grant him pardon, Jesus Saviour blest And give his spirit light and endless rest.

Lovingly remembered by wife Anna, children, and grandchildren.

Mass will be celebrated at Church of OLPS on Dec 10 at 6.30pm.

Thirteenth Anniversary In loving memory of

Sixteenth Anniversary In loving memory of

ANNIE LIM GUEK KHIM Departed: Dec 1, 1995 Always remembered by loved ones at home.

Thirteenth Anniversary In loving memory of

TERESA TAN LIAN NEO Departed: Dec 4, 1998 In our hearts your memory lingers, Sweetly tender, fond and true, There is not a day, dear mother, That we do not think of you.

Loved always: Shirley, Sheilla, Kevin & Grandsons (Ramsey, Elijah & Lucius) and all loved ones.

DOLORES AMBROSE Departed: Dec 10, 1998 In our hearts you will always live Your love, your voice and your smile Are forever imprinted in our hearts.

Deeply missed and fondly remembered by loved ones.

Eighteenth Anniversary In loving memory of

PETER GOH BUAN TECK Departed: Dec 7, 1993

Gone from our lives one so dear, But in our hearts forever near.

Fondly remembered by all loved ones.

7ZHQW\ ÂżUVW Anniversary

PERCY EBDEN PETERS Departed: Nov 30 1990 We remember and cherish the happy times together Remembering them today and forever.

Deeply missed by wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Spirituality Centre. At 100 Jln Merbok.

T: 6466 2178; E: lifesprings@singnet. com.sg;

and insights. Facilitated by Fr Christopher Soh, SJ. Cost: $60 or $40 (before Dec 15).

By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). Cost: $40.

T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc2664@gmail.com

Wednesdays January 4 2012 to July 18 2012 THE BIBLE TIMELINE 7.45-9.45pm The Bible Timeline is basic enough to suit those who havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t studied the bible before. It offers ways to go deeper that will challenge the Bible study veteran. Salvation history covered from its beginning in Genesis through the coming of Christ and the establishment of the Catholic Church. Cost: $48 (for materials). At Church of the Holy Spirit Room A2-01. T: 9833 4623 (Andrew), E: andrew_loo_ts@yahoo.com.sg

Saturday January 7 to Sunday January 8 THE CONTEMPLATIVE DIMENSION OF FAITH 8.30am: Seminar aims to further deepen the spirit of friendship and collaboration among the different faiths in Singapore.

Common Ground will focus on the contemplative practice of religion and how the shared experience of silence in meditation can enhance interreligious dialogue. Led by Fr. Laurence Freeman, OSB, with contributions from other religious leaders. By IRED, WCCM and supported by IRO. At CJC Performing Arts Centre (Whitley Rd). Cost: $50.

Register T: 8411 3130/6336 4815; E: commonground2012@gmail.com

Wednesdays January 4 2012 to March 21 2012 WHO DO YOU SAY I AM? 8pm Gain deeper knowledge of Jesus through 12 evening sessions reading Pope %HQHGLFW ;9,ÂśV ERRN -HVXV RI 1D]DUHWK Vol. 1, praying, and sharing experiences

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www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

ACROSS 1 Holy ___ 5 Telly watchers 10 1986 World Series winners 14 Designer Piccone 15 Certain mount 16 Land measure 17 Prepare to be shot 18 Sun-dried brick 19 A queen of Jordan 20 Wreck entirely 22 John XXIIIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surname 24 Catholic Surrealist painter 27 Own person 28 Certain sin 32 Samson killed Philistines with the jawbone of this animal 33 Fall behind 34 Shades 36 Religious offshoots 40 Highly excited 42 Chilly 44 â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ Maryâ&#x20AC;?

45 Discharged 47 Unit of weight in gemstones 49 Fascist leader?

50 â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śthere is nothing ___ under the sunâ&#x20AC;? (Eccl 1:9) 52 Summer beverage 54 Fast and ___ 58 Latin 101 verb 59 Perplex

61 ___ Coeur 65 H.S. course 66 Blessing before meals 69 Laugh loudly 70 Barbarous person 71 Eject 72 Arab ruler 73 Late Catholic senator and namesakes 74 Is inclined 75 Clarets

25 Daniel was in this 48 Throw animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s den 51 Gadget 26 Grecian 53 â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ My God to architectural style Theeâ&#x20AC;?

28 Patron saint of 54 Top monk Norway 55 Light brown 29 Wise Men 56 â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śthe ___ of the 30 Composer Spirit, which is Stravinsky the word of Godâ&#x20AC;?

(Eph 6:17) 31 Monarchy in the Himalayas 57 Impertinence 35 Shopping fun 60 Genesis weather 37 Jesus turned water 62 â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śthy kingdom into wine here ___â&#x20AC;?

38 Heading for 63 Sudden assault DOWN overtime 64 Transgresses 1 Peter did this after BBB JLQ Âż]] 67 Religious he denied Jesus 41 St. Paul, the instruction, (Mk 14:72) Apostle to the ___ formerly (abbr.)

2 A Rachael Ray 43 Edible roots $OLHQV EULHĂ&#x20AC;\ favorite 46 Distribute cards 3 Direction from Bethlehem to the Jordan 4 Mixes dough Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1045 5 US young menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s org.

T I T H E P O P E T E T E 6 Free O P A L A Y E S A S H E S K M A R T P E R E H E L P 7 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Are you ___ E S T E E M E D M A I D E N out?â&#x20AC;?

S E A S C E N T 8 Set apart as sacred S L I M Y C A N T I C L E 9 Yellowish brown I T H E S L U S T S H I P pigment L E A S S A L E S V I C I 10 Elder son of C H I P S C O L I C S R S Joseph V A L E T A N A P H O R A 11 Eleveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s place H A R D B A B A 12 Cave-dwelling A N O I N T J O N A T H A N dwarf C E L L A M O I R I A T A 13 Letter cross-line C X I I G E E S E L V E R 21 The ___ Supper T T O P E L L E T E E N Y www.wordgamesforcatholics.com 23 Luck

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Sunday December 4, 2011 CatholicNews

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