DECEMBER 29, 2013, Vol 63, No 26

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Sunday December 29, 2013 „ CatholicNews

ARCHBISHOP GOH’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Advent is a season of Hope.

This hope is now realised in the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ Jesus, we receive new hope in a world that is dark and gloomy; unsure of its future because of growing secularism, relativism, materialism and ethical indifference.

When we look at the world

family life breaking down, divorces rising and faith in God decreasing, we cannot but be bewildered at what will happen to the next generation.

Lest we think that darkness has overcome the light, the gospel tells us differently. The prophet Isaiah said, “The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone.� (Isa 9:1).

ture of God as Love and Truth.

Indeed, the Letter to the Hebrews says, “At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son, the Son that he has appointed to inherit everything and through whom he made everything there is.�

(Heb 1:1-2) God’s love for us is not simply a sentimental love but

culminating in His passion, death and resurrection.

In the same vein, He reveals to us who the true men and women are. Like Christ,

we are called today to offer hope to the world by revealing to our fellowmen the love, mercy and compassion of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We do this by following Him in His exemplary selfemptying love as we give the greatest gift to our fellowmen

Let us not allow the material celebration of Christmas and the merry-making to take away the greater interior joy of contemplating on the birth of Jesus.

Jesus indeed is the Light of the World. The encyclical writ-

ten by Pope Emeritus Benedict and completed by Pope Francis, “Lumen Fidei�, speaks of the light of faith that gives hope to a hopeless and confused world that has lost its direction, and humanity unsure of its identity and purpose in life.

St John reiterated this when he wrote, “All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men, a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower.� (Jn 1:4-5) Indeed, “The Word was the true light that enlightens all men; and he was coming into the world.�

(Jn 1:9) He is the radiant light of God’s glory and the perfect copy of his nature.� (Heb 1:3) How is He the Light of the world? He reveals to us the na-

us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world.

us in order to set us free from all wickedness and to purify a people so that it could be his very own and would have no ambition except to do good.�

(Titus 2:11-14) This is the way of the New

a love that is expressed in the total giving of Himself in humility to humanity. That God would condescend to assume our humanity is something too marvellous for us to ponder. The incarnation and the

Kenosis, self-emptying. This is then concretely lived by a life mation of the Good News and the Father’s unconditional love and mercy demonstrated by His works of mercy, reconciliation, healing and exorcism,

above all the gifts we can give, namely, the gift of ourselves in humble service. Like Jesus, at Christmas, we are to make ourselves a gift to others through acts of humble service, loving deeds, and the giving of gifts to the poor and time to those who are lonely and need a listening ear, encouragement and enlightenment.

This is what St Paul wrote to the Christians, “God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught

Evangelisation, a gospel that is incarnated in the lives of our people, touching every sphere of human life, culture, economics, politics, social, family, education, media, technology and science.

To be able to do what Jesus has done, we need to recover our identity as God’s adopted sons and daughters in Christ.

Let not the words of St John also be our condemnation when he wrote, “He was in the world that had its being through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him.�

Before we can live authentically in truth and love, we must accept Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life. Indeed, “to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to all who believe in the name of him who was

born not out of human stock or

but of God himself.� (Jn 1:12) In faith, therefore, we are called to confess in the incarnation of the Lord, the Word

the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith. “The Word was

and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.� (Jn 1:14) It is truly a time for us, like Mary and the Magi, to wonder at the love of God, and a time of contemplation of the mystery of God’s love in our lives today. Jesus who knows what

it is like to be a man could therefore show us the compassion and mercy of God. Let us not allow the material celebration of Christmas and the merry-making to take away the greater interior joy of contemplating on the birth of Jesus and drawing fresh inspiration and strength from the infant child of God. Hence, like the Magi who came to worship Him and departed by a different route back home (cf Mt 2:12) so, too, we who come to worship Jesus at the Mass and at the Crib must depart by a different route.

We do this by living a transformed life of love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion which comes through the joy of meeting Christ and gratitude for His love and mercy in becoming one with us in our humanity.

Through Him, we see the face of God. May we too be the glory of God among humanity as we allow those we meet to encounter Christ in and through us! May the birth of Christ give you all a rebirth

joy and love.

Yours in Christ,

Archbishop William Goh

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Sunday December 29, 2013 „ CatholicNews

CafĂŠ cum social enterprise opens

By Darren Boon Being able to land jobs at a Catholic-funded cafĂŠ cum social enterprise is a big boost to their careers, say graduates of Assumption Pathway School (APS).

Tyson Ng, 17, says he now feels “more grounded because he has a job which allows him to pick up skills�.

Ng, who works as a service crew member at the recently opened Crossings CafĂŠ, located at the Catholic Centre on Waterloo St, said his training at APS has helped him interact with customers. He added that he hopes to pick up some barista skills in the future.

His colleague, Kennedy Kwok, 17, agrees with him.

Kwok, who works as part of the cafÊ’s kitchen crew, told CatholicNews he is glad to be able to land a job at the cafÊ. He said his training at the Gabrieliterun vocational institute was useful in preparing him to work in the food and beverage industry.

The cafĂŠ, which is funded by Catholic donors, has so far hired one kitchen crew and two service crew members from APS. The school assists students who are unable to access mainstream education by providing skills training in areas such as

Above: Assumption Pathway School graduates Kennedy Kwok (left) and Tyson Ng working at the cafĂŠ.

Left: Crossings CafĂŠ, located at the Catholic Centre on Waterloo St.

food preparation, food and beverage service and customer service.

It works closely with the Institute of Technical Education and Education Ministry to craft curriculum suited to the students.

Ms Jenny Teng, chairperson of the Crossings CafĂŠ project, said the cafe is also exploring the possibility of APS students interning there as well as options

to collaborate with the school in support of its baking course.

The synergy for collaboration is there, said Ms Teng, adding that the donors view the cafĂŠ “as a social mission with a causeâ€?. As far as possible, the cafĂŠ would try to hire those who are needy and require work. The organisation also does not rule out the possibility of hiring seniors and the

Crossings CafĂŠ tries to hire the needy

$

partially handicapped, she said.

If the staff do well in their work and are serious about improving themselves, the cafĂŠ is willing to sponsor them for relevant diploma courses or other training courses, Ms Teng said.

The cafĂŠ is also exploring other opportunities to partner Catholic organisations for charitable causes, she said, adding that “we hope the Catholic community can support [this project]â€?.

Meanwhile, chef Clement Lee, who helped design the menu, describes it as “westernised, casual, nothing too fanciful, clear cut�.

He recommends the chilli crab pasta, a spicy east-west fusion dish served with crab claw meat as one of the cafÊ’s specialities, and its grilled pork and fennel burger, and honey mustard ribs.

Crossings CafĂŠ is located at

Street and is opened daily from

starting in January. The cafĂŠ is

! " "## # „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday December 29, 2013 „ CatholicNews

2014 bursary scheme for needy students launched

By Darren Boon tions in the 2014 Carlo Catholic Society Bursary Scheme has been launched for needy primary, secondary and junior college/centralised institute students.

Applicants must be Catholics studying in governmentrecognised institutions.

In addition, they must have good conduct, satisfactory academic results and must not be recipients of any other scholarships or bursaries.

The applicant’s household monthly income must not exceed $2,000, or the per capita (average) household income should be $450 per month or lower.

Logo of Carlo Catholic Society

Application forms are available at Carlo Catholic Society, 225-B Queen Street or down-

loadable from its Facebook page (http://on.fb.me/ YoIA27).

Submissions must be completed on the original application form with other necessary supporting documents as stated. Incomplete submissions will not be processed.

All applications must be mailed or submitted in person to Carlo Catholic Society by Feb 1. Online submissions will not be processed.

Carlo Catholic Society will notify successful applicants via post or email.

The second phase of applications for bursaries for needy ITE, polytechnic and university students will begin on May 15.

Meanwhile Jeanne (not her real name), a Sec 3 student who has received the $500 bursary for two years told CatholicNews the money has been put to good use in buying school books, and is a

„ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

Migrants body issues statement on rioting The Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ACMI) has released a statement on the rioting in Little India. The statement is as follows: The rioting in Little India on 8th Dec 2013 is a serious matter. Whether locals or migrants, the Church does not condone anyone taking the law into their own hands.

According to our Catholic social teachings, an individual’s rights must always be placed in the context of solidarity and concern for the well-being of the wider community.

It is however too premature for us to comment on the incident, as the details are still not known, but we are pleased to note that the Prime Minister has convened a committee to look into the root causes of the riot as well as possible pre-emptive measures.

Meanwhile, we pray for calm on the part of all affected parties, Singaporeans and foreigners alike, and that we not fall prey to xenophobia and racism. We also urge all who come to seek a living in Singapore to respect the laws of the land at all times, so that we can all enjoy a peaceful co-existence. „

Parish prays for deceased worker

By Darren Boon The parish community of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes held a memorial service during the 6.30 pm Tamil Mass on Dec 15 to pray for the repose of the soul of Sakthivel Kumaravelu.

The construction worker from India was killed in an accident on Dec 8 evening which allegedly triggered the rioting in Little India.

The parish also organised a second offering during the Mass to assist Kumaravelu’s family.

According to media reports, he was the sole breadwinner in his family.

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes at Ophir Road serves many migrants from South Asia and holds Masses in Tamil, Sinhala and English. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday December 29, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Dan Schutte and priests perform original compositions

By Clara Lai You may be familiar with hymns such as Here I Am Lord, City of God and Holy Darkness. But did you know that they came from the same composer?

American Christian singersongwriter Dan Schutte has written these and many other Catholic liturgical music pieces, and on Dec 13, he together with two Jesuit priests sang their own compositions.

Poems, Prayers and the Promise – the Concert, was held at the Church of St Mary of the Angels and saw Filipino Fr Manoling Francisco and Singapore-based Fr Mark Aloysius from the Church of St Ignatius also performing.

Between each of the 14 songs that spoke of praise, pain, joy and struggle, the performers explained their inspirations behind their compositions.

They were also joined by Franciscan Friar Derrick Yap and supported by three choirs from the Church of St Ignatius.

Fr Manoling shared that he wrote the song Your Heart Today as a “modern adaptation of St Francis’ prayer for peace�, and “we pray that we may be in God’s heart today�.

Fr Mark and Friar Derrick then sang this song which they had earlier sung during the West District Youth Rally.

Fr Mark, who composed some of his songs when studying in a school of theology, also presented his newest work that evening, Sensus Christi.

Left: US singer-composer Dan Schutte, the man behind many familiar hymns, performing on Dec 13. Right: Jesuit Fr Mark Aloysius and Franciscan Friar Derrick Yap singing the song, Your Heart Today.

Schutte performed some of his all-time favourites such as Beyond the Moon and Stars, Here I am Lord and City of God. He also introduced his composition, Holy Darkness, commonly heard during Lent and Easter. Fr Mark and Friar Derrick then sang a hauntingly captivating version of the song.

For an encore, Schutte sang Yahweh You are Near.

Speaking to CatholicNews after the concert, Schutte said that “it’s such an honour to be here, to work with these other talents� and added that he would “love to come back someday�.

Schutte, one of the best-known

Catholic music for liturgy in the

Filipino Jesuit Fr Manoling Francisco

English-speaking world, is currently a composer-in-residence at the University of San Francisco.

Members of the 1,000-strong audience had equally positive feedback.

Amanda Leo, 21, from the Church of Christ the King said that it “was nice to hear the hymns that we usually hear in Mass performed by the original composers�.

Church of St Francis Xavier parishioner Kenneth Ngo, 38, said that he feels there is currently “no platform for local Church music� but hopes that after this concert, he will see “more budding Catholic musicians come up with more music�.

The following day, Schutte, Fr Manoling and Fr Mark conducted a workshop at the Church of Divine Mercy, with each sharing

their own compositions, as well as the thought processes behind them.

Mr Nicholas Lim, 39, from the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, said the workshop was a “very emotional experience� for him. “When writers give the context in which they wrote the songs, there is so much more meaning infused in them.�

He said he also learnt “how the songs we choose can affect how the congregation worships�.

The concert and workshop were jointly organised by CANA – The Catholic Centre and the % & ' „ clara.lai@catholic.org.sg

Cathedral choir presents Peace and Love concert

By Clara Lai It was a celebration of song and unity at the annual Christmas concert staged by the Cathedral Choir of the Risen Christ.

But amidst the music and readings for Advent, held at St Joseph’s Church (Victoria St) on Dec 15, a sombre note was struck as the audience observed a minute of silence for the late Nelson Mandela.

A South African carol was then performed, to rejoice over “his life that was not lived in vain, but a source of inspiration and hope to millions�, said choral director Sir Peter Low. The Cathedral Choir of the Risen Christ, accompanied by the Cathedral Chamber Consort, was performing its Peace and Love concert that evening which featured carols from some 20 countries.

Although it was easy to feel a

Cathedral Choir of the Risen Christ singing carols from around the world.

Apostolic nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli places an ornament on the Christmas tree.

little lost as the songs moved from Mexico to France, Switzerland, Spain, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines before coming back to Singapore, the medley was enjoyable, graceful and upbeat.

This was also not your typical

that was being described.

Members of the audience that evening included Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, a parishioner of the Church of St Ignatius, and diplomats from various countries.

stand-and-sing choir. At certain parts of the medley, there were dances and colourful costumes representative of the country featured. While singing an Australian carol, the choir even brought out

During one segment, they were invited to hang ornaments on the Christmas tree that was already adorned with their national

" # additional decorations represent the diplomats’ “prayers for their families and for the nations that they are from�.

Archbishop William Goh, who was also present, blessed the

blessing at the end of the concert.

Monetary donations were also collected that evening for the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd and St Joseph’s Church.

Mr Sunny Sng, who is not a Catholic and who attended the concert with his wife, said the concert was “beautiful, fantastic and very well done�, and when the choir sang in “all the different languages, it was like the whole world was singing together�. „ clara.lai@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday December 29, 2013 CatholicNews

CHANCERY NOTICE APPOINTMENTS 1. Msgr Ambrose Vaz is appointed as Spiritual Director of the umbrella body that coordinates all the current familyrelated ministries.

b. Mr Anthony Seah Choon Tong

c. d. e. f. g. h.

c. Ms Janet Lim, OFS d. Mr Patrick Prakash

November 29, 2013 OTHER MATTERS

Mass in the extraordinary Rite

Sr Cecily Pavri

2. Fr James Yeo has been appointed to the Board of Catholic Theological Institute of Singapore and will also hold the position of Supervisor representing the interest of the Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore for a term of 5 years with effect from 11 November 2013.

Mr Derrick Chee Jin Hoe Mr Kenneth Ho Weng Hee Mr Lionel Tseng Mr Maurice Teo Ms Rose Yeo Pee Hiang

6. Fr Colin Tan, SJ, has been reappointed for a two year term on the Board of CHARlS with effect from 21st November 2013.

4. The following priests have been appointed to the Clergy Welfare Committee of the Chancery for a term of two years with effect from 11 November 2013. a. Fr Samuel Lim b. Fr Terence Kesavan

3. The following persons have been appointed to the Board of Catholic Theological Institute of Singapore for a term of two years with effect from 11 November 2013: a. Mr Alvin Koh Meng Sin

5. The following persons have been appointed as members of the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Interreligious Dialogue (ACCIRD) a. Fr Avelino Marin, Opus Dei b. Mr Gerald Kong

7. The following persons have been appointed for a two year term on the Board of CHARIS with effect from 1st January 2014: a. Professor Philip Choo b. Ms Sherlyn Khong Swee Lin c. Mr Jeremy Khoo d. Mr Stephen Phoon 8. Fr Kenny Tan has been appointed as Spiritual Director for the Roman Catholic Prisons Ministry (RCPM) for a term of two years with effect from 21st November 2013.

The Mass in the extraordinary Rite (Latin Tridentine Mass) which was allowed to be celebrated in our churches in recent times has triggered much interest and curiosity among the faithful.

Senate would like to remind the faithful that although this form of Mass is made available, this does not mean that the Church agrees with the doctrinal teachings and liturgical interpretations of the Society of St Pius X. The Society

of St Pius X is not in communion with the Catholic Church.

It is to be noted that priests of the Society of St Pius X, although validly ordained, are “suspended a divinis, which is prohibited by the Church from exercising their orders because of their illicit ordination.” As such, it is considered morally illicit for the faithful to participate in, unless they are physically or morally impeded from participating in a Mass celebrated by a Catholic priest in good standing (cf. Code of Canon Law, canon 844.2).

Fr John-Paul Tan, OFM, JCL, Chancellor, Chancery of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore #07-01 Catholic Centre, 55 Waterloo Street. Singapore 187954 Email: chancery@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday December 29, 2013 „ CatholicNews

The less fortunate may have more to give than to receive, as seen on this mission trip

By Benedict Tang About 30 youths and adults from Singapore visited Pattaya, Thailand, from Dec 2 to 10 with the Redemptorist Overseas Mission Experience (ROME) team.

Most of the group members were from the Church of Christ the King, Church of the Divine Mercy, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School (Secondary) and CHIJ Katong Convent.

This mission trip has been held annually over the past several years, and in recent visits, participants have gone to the Fr Ray Foundation comprising of a vocation school, School for the Blind, children’s Home and Centre for Children with Special Needs, among other institutions.

Spiritual Director Fr Simon Pereira said that the events and experiences would shape the participants and help them to build motivation to embark on different forms of mission.

One of the institutions that participants visited during this trip was the vocation school, where it teaches young adults with disabilities the skills and knowledge * dence to live an independent life.

Another highlight of the trip was when the group heard the life story of 20-year-old Nui, who was born without hands and legs. She shared about being rejected by her parents at birth and subsequently, mocked by people as she grew up.

Through the Fr Ray Foundation, she picked up vocational skills and learnt to fend for herself.

Nui, a Buddhist, said that she was grateful for all the help that the foundation has rendered, and added that she is thankful for the encouragement from Singapore groups

Loosening the top soil for resident ducks to lay eggs.

who have visited over the years. “I felt this mission trip has shown us how fortunate and blessed we are in Singapore,� said Ms Nicole-Ann Nielsen, 41. “Through these less fortunate – orphaned children, people with disabilities – they were in fact

evangelising to us that no matter

we must constantly try our best to...persevere in all that we do,� the Church of the Divine Mercy parishioner added. “I learnt to treat others with compassion and empathy. I gave

Learning to lead the blind before spending a day at the beach with them.

Participants Joel Ng, 38, and Regine Chong, 16, with some of the kids from Fr Ray Foundation’s children’s village in Pattaya, Thailand.

them love and I’m positive that they have felt my warmth. Through simple actions they have taught me and provided another perspective to life,� said Leow Jingxin, 16, a non-Catholic student from CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School (Secondary).

Ms Magdalene Lee, 71, from the Church of the Divine Mercy said she felt sympathetic towards the underprivileged people that

she met during the trip, and urged Singaporeans to “go forward to try and serve the less fortunate�.

For more information on the Fr Ray Foundation, please visit fr-ray.org. „

8 ASIA

Sunday December 29, 2013 „ CatholicNews

FMM SISTERS REJOICE OUTSIDE THEIR NEWLY BUILT CONVENT: The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary nuns recently moved into their brand new Maris Stella Convent located on the site of their old building on Holland Road. The nuns had to put up with termites and leaky roofs in their former centuryold building.

A blessing ceremony for the new convent is scheduled for Jan 6.

Myanmar Church exults over upcoming

Indian PM apologises after Christian marchers beaten

YANGON – A leading archbishop in Myanmar has hailed the up

= < as a sign of the popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; love for the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are delighted to know > > will be Isidore Ngei Ko Lat. The Holy Father is close to Myanmar >

Pope Francis and the Holy Seeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love and attention,â&#x20AC;? said Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon.

His remarks came soon after Pope Francis on Dec 8 authorised

NEW DELHI â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Indian Prime Min-

been recognised.

Speaking to AsiaNews, Archbishop Bo described the â&#x20AC;&#x153;great joy and happinessâ&#x20AC;? of the Catholic community in his country, caught by surprise by the longawaited announcement.

The journey began in May 2008, when Myanmarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catholic bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; conference wrote a letter to Pope Benedict XVI to â&#x20AC;&#x153;humbly ask the pope to authorise the study of the causeâ&#x20AC;?, said Archbishop Bo.

@ \ gara and his catechist, the bishops

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We are delighted

to know that % & & will be Isidore Ngei Ko Lat.

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Archbishop Charles Bo (left)

a decree recognising the martyrdom of Italian priest Fr Mario \ # ^ for Foreign Missions (PIME ) and Isidore Ngei Ko Lat, a lay Burmese catechist martyred in Shadaw, Myanmar, on May 24, 1950.

The recognition of their martyrdom was among 12 decrees, including a miracle and 10 heroic virtues, that Pope Francis authorised.

cation is of 19th century Italian nun, Giovannina Franks, through whose intercession a miracle has

wrote, will be a source of â&#x20AC;&#x153;encouragementâ&#x20AC;? for the whole community to live a faith more in line with the Gospel and to witness to it â&#x20AC;&#x153;in a brave and heroicâ&#x20AC;? way, said the archbishop.

He said the Church in Myanmar is preparing to celebrate 500 years of history and hopes for a visit by Pope Francis to the country.

on a long journey and â&#x20AC;&#x153;there are many othersâ&#x20AC;? who are martyrs in Myanmar, he added. Â&#x201E; VATICAN RADIO

ister Manmohan Singh apologised to Church leaders for the police beating of protesters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including priests and nuns â&#x20AC;&#x201C; during a march to Parliament advocating for rights for low-caste Christians.

Mr Singh apologised on Dec 12 when a 10-member delegation, led by Delhi Archbishop Anil Couto, called on him to press for the Christian demand for an end to discrimination against Christian dalits, members of the low castes.

Archbishop Couto was among six Catholic bishops and about a dozen of different denominations detained with 400 protesters during the march the previous day.

Hundreds of the protesters from across India broke through police barricades and marched to Parliament shouting, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want justice!â&#x20AC;?

Dalits are people treated as untouchables under the caste system in India. In 1950 the Indian government established a quota system in education and govern +

action for Hindu dalits.

Though these statutory privileges were later extended to Sikh dalits and Buddhist dalits, the repeated requests of the Christian dalits â&#x20AC;&#x201C; who account for twothirds of 27 million Christians in India â&#x20AC;&#x201C; have gone unanswered.

Christian demonstrators are taken away in a police bus on Dec 11 after being arrested during a march advocating for rights for low-caste Christians in New Delhi. CNS photo

During the Dec 11 march, police with batons charged and beat up several protesters. Undeterred, the protesters, including Catholic priests in cassocks, knelt on the road with crosses in hand. A police truck with water cannons sprayed them with muddy water several times.

When the protesters would not move, police arrested more than 400 of them, including all the bishops, who remained in the po <

an audience for the delegation to present a memorandum on behalf of the dalits. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are not going to tolerate this injustice [to the dalits] any longer, said Fr Devasagayraj Zakarias, secretary of the Dalit Commission of the Catholic Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference of India. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have made our stand clear, and the prime minister has promised to try to build consensus on our demand.â&#x20AC;? He said Catholic leaders were happy that the prime minister apologised. Â&#x201E; CNS

Philippine bishops warned of schismatic groups MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Vatican has alerted Philippine bish-

ops of the presence of two schismatic groups in the country.

In an article released by the Catholic Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Msgr Seamus

quoted as saying that the Roman Catholic Society

of Pope Leo XIII (Societas Catholica Romana Papae Leonis) and the Opus Sancti Michaelis Archangeli (OSMA) â&#x20AC;&#x153;are not recognised by the Catholic Churchâ&#x20AC;?.

Msgr Gabor Pinter, chargĂŠ dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;affaires of the apostolic nunciature in the Philippines, told the CBCP that the society cannot exercise any ministry within the Church. Â&#x201E; ZENIT

ASIA 9

Sunday December 29, 2013 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Manila auxiliary bishop warns

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A month after Ty-

phoon Haiyan left 1.9 million people homeless and more than 5,900 dead in the Philippines, survivors are facing a new potential disaster: human trafficking.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, convenor of the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Interfaith Movement Against Human Traf _ ` {| the devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan and the resulting â&#x20AC;&#x153;chaotic environmentâ&#x20AC;? make potential victims â&#x20AC;&#x153;extremely vulnerableâ&#x20AC;?.

Mr Raymond Jonathan Lledo, head of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Inter-Agency Task Force

_

foreigners are already starting to recruit women from disaster areas.

The Philippines has been

_ @ pinos going overseas for job opportunities only to be trapped in a

} _

forced labour. ~|{ Â&#x20AC;" _

Persons Report noted that human _

Â

lemâ&#x20AC;?, as people are frequently _ ban centres.

People line up to get supplies in Balangkaya, Philippines. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, convenor of the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Interfaith Move

after Typhoon Haiyan makes potential victims extremely vulnerable.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now, more than ever, Filipinos need to rise up and protect those who would be exploited within their borders,â&#x20AC;? Bishop Pabillo told reporters in a press

` {| Various church groups also held a â&#x20AC;&#x153;prayer rallyâ&#x20AC;? in Manila on ` {~

_

â&#x20AC;&#x153;If they are becoming bold

in committing this modern-day slavery, we have to be much

Â&#x201A; + statement issued by Catholic and Protestant Churches in the Philippines. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a Church, we cannot just sit idly by while cases of human _

ter year,â&#x20AC;? the statement said. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

KATHMANDU â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Preparations for Christmas are being transformed into an opportunity for encounter and reconciliation among Christians, Hindus and other religions living in Nepal. On the streets of Kathmandu, hotels, restaurants, shops and homes are already decorated for Christmas.

In the souvenir shops among the best-selling greeting cards are those with the image of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Bookshops are also displaying Bibles and books on Christianity.

Fr Robin Rai, pastor of the Cathedral of the Assumption in Kathmandu, said that dozens of volunteers, Christians and Hindus, have worked together to decorate the church.

The priest said that the parish is â&#x20AC;&#x153;teaching young people Christmas carols to accompany the festivitiesâ&#x20AC;?, as every year the Christmas celebrations are expected to attract thousands of people in the predominantly Hindu nation.

Mr Bhim Raim, a catechist, explains that young catechumens who are preparing for baptism are the â&#x20AC;&#x153;most activeâ&#x20AC;?.

After the fall of the monarchy in 2006, the government decided in 2011 to make Christmas a national holiday to revive tourism.

This has allowed Christians to expose images and sacred ornaments in stores and outside churches and homes.

Since then, the number of Catholics in the country has seen

The Nepalese government made Christmas a national holiday in 2011, and it has now become an opportunity for encounter and reconciliation among Christians, Hindus and other religions living in Nepal. an increase to over 10,000 people today.

In the past two years, Christmas has become a time of celebration for other religious groups such as Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims. Â&#x201E; ASIANEWS

10 WORLD

Sunday December 29, 2013 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Programme in Egypt aims to help Muslims, Christians avert more strife CAIRO â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Select Muslims and Christians in Egypt are participating in a development project designed to avert further sectarian violence after a surge in clashes between the two religious groups.

The US bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Catholic Relief Services is sponsoring the two-year initiative, which engages Muslims and Christians in implementing public works for the sake of the entire community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some of the root causes that have led to... the recent sectarian violence were related to a lack of understanding or a lack of respect for one another, so bringing people together to collaborate is even more critical at this time,â&#x20AC;? said Ms Erin Atwell, the CRS staffer overseeing the US$800,000 (S$1 million) initiative, Tolerant Attitudes and Leadership for Action.

She said the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s English acronym, TALA, was the source for its Egyptian name, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Taâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;alaâ&#x20AC;?, which means â&#x20AC;&#x153;comeâ&#x20AC;? in Arabic, Egyptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national language. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like an invitation to come over [and] work across religious linesâ&#x20AC;? on joint projects that improve areas prone to sectarian strife, or where such Muslim-Christian con said Ms Atwell, CRS programme manager for interfaith action and civil society capacity building.

Ms Atwell said Taâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ala project money now funds the selection of Christian and Muslim community leaders across Egypt as well as their training in models and methods for identifying, analysing and

Those same leaders will then

The programme will train the Christian and Muslim community leaders to stop

They will then train youth in their areas and collectively come up with ideas of development projects needed.

A Coptic Orthodox bishop surveys a damaged church in late August in Minya, Egypt. The US bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Catholic Relief Services has sponsored a development project to avoid further violence following more clashes between the Muslims and Christians in the country. CNS photo

select and train Muslim and Christian youth in their areas and collectively come up with ideas of what development projects their different communities need most, which Taâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ala will then pay to implement, said Ms Atwell. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Groups of youth, who have been working for at least six months in the project learning to work together to collaborate on a common vision, then go out into their own communities and conduct a needs analysis of their individual villages.

It could be anything from youth seeing that they need to paint some

buildings in the community, to deciding that they want an initiative with children in some schools to raise awareness about interreligious collaboration,â&#x20AC;? Ms Atwell said.

She said the Taâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ala project started in October, two months after some of Egyptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worst Muslim-Christian violence in modern history left dozens of churches burned, destroyed and looted.

Taâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ala will last two years and will be implemented jointly by the Coptic Catholic Church; Nour elIslam, an Egyptian Muslim nongovernmental organisation; and Family

Hymn-writing competition announced for Chinese Catholics MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; An international com-

petition launching in January will invite Mandarin Chinesespeaking Catholics throughout the world to compose devotional religious hymns for use in ministry. Â & to promote the Christian values,â&#x20AC;? said Fr John Mi, the coordinator of the event.

He told Catholic News Agency on Dec 7 that among Chinese Catholics, there has been little composition of music for Mass and prayer gatherings. As a result, Protestant songs are sometimes used.

Fr Mi explained that the idea developed when some young people approached him to ask if there was any platform for them to write songs and use them in ministry.

They suggested a plan to â&#x20AC;&#x153;reach outâ&#x20AC;? to the greater Catholic community to search for devotion result is an invitation to all Catholics in the Mandarin Chinesespeaking world, not only in main-

This competition was organised because among Chinese Catholics, there is limited choice of music for Mass and prayer gatherings. land China, but in Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong and across the globe.

The contest is being launched by the Mandarin section of Radio Veritas Asia in the Philippines.

Located in Manila, Radio Veritas Asia is the non-commercial Catholic radio station of the Federation of Asian Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conferences. It was started in 1969 and broadcasts in 15 Asian languages.

Fr Mi said that the idea is to â&#x20AC;&#x153;motivateâ&#x20AC;? those who have the â&#x20AC;&#x153;talent to composeâ&#x20AC;? religious songs, and inspire them in producing re to be part of the Catholic faith life.

It is also hoped that the contest will help renew the faith life of Chinese Catholics through song, he said.

The contest is open from January through July of 2014. A group of judges will then spend several weeks considering the submissions, and results will be publicised in October at an award night. # Â&#x192;

second and third place. In addition, 10 consolation prizes will be given.

The 13 winning songs will then be compiled on a CD and distributed throughout the world.

To submit an entry in the contest, an individual is only required to offer the lyrics of his or her composition. The actual music can be provided later. Fr Mi explained that this is because many of the contributors live in rural areas and may not have access to high quality recording facilities.

Those interested in participating are encouraged to contact tianzhuasia@gmail.com. Â&#x201E; CNA

House, an interreligious dialogue unit of Egyptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Al-Azhar University.

Mr Abdel Rahim Mohamed Gaad, a Muslim and Nour el-Islam member involved in the leadership training, said the programme taught him skills in teaching â&#x20AC;&#x153;coexistence, tionâ&#x20AC;?, which he will share with leaders in Luxor, where he lives. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the ideas emerging is to bring [Muslim] youth on bus trips to visit some of [Egyptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] famous churches, or monasteries, so they see for themselves that there are no arms inside and that the people inside are good, praying and doing nothing to harm Islam,â&#x20AC;?

Mr Gaad told CNS.

Mr Rushdy Sobhe, a Coptic Catholic who also lives in Luxor and is involved in the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s training there, said that some of the selected leaders he had met expressed similar ideas about wanting their Muslim and Christian youth to visit each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s different places of worship. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Another prominent idea is that the youth repaint together both a mosque and a church in their different villages and towns,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Mr Sobhe said the Taâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ala project came at â&#x20AC;&#x153;the right timeâ&#x20AC;? in Egypt because the revolt that overthrew President Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ensuing attempts at democracy led to heightened insecurities, a general increase in violence and also new freedoms of expression that included the unprecedented right to openly acknowledge sectarian troubles in the predominantly Muslim nation of more than 80 million people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is much fear now, but also much truth and frankness,â&#x20AC;? he said. Â&#x201E; CNS Â&#x201E; See related story on Page 13

Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bishops oppose new state secrets law Japanese bishops are strongly protesting against a special secrets law that was passed on Dec 6 by the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Upper House despite widespread opposition.

The law introduces new penalties for those who leak secrets, along with expanded scope for the government to declare various matters to be state secrets.

In a statement on Dec 7, the standing committee of the Catholic Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference of Japan warned the passage of the law through the House of Councillors could â&#x20AC;&#x153;destroy the foundation of democracyâ&#x20AC;?.

The statement, addressed to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, stressed that the law could jeopardise the three main principles of the Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s constitution, that sovereignty resides with the people, respect

Under the bill, public servants

or others with access to state secrets could be jailed for up to 10 _

according to a Reuters news report.

Journalists and others in the private sector convicted of encouraging _

if they use â&#x20AC;&#x153;grossly inappropriateâ&#x20AC;? means to solicit the information.

A coalition of the ruling Liberal Democrats and the New Komeito Party passed the bill despite opposition from other parties and polls that show a majority of Japanese oppose the law.

The bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; committee members stressed that â&#x20AC;&#x153;we strongly oppose these rough and ready votes and demand that the same mandatory votes will never be performed againâ&#x20AC;?.

The prelates also expressed fear that information about nuclear plants might be hidden from the public. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

WORLD 11

Sunday December 29, 2013 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Tens of thousands attend Mandelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s memorial service in Johannesburg CNS photo

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Former South African Pres-

ident Nelson Mandela looked down on the tens of thousands of people gathered at his memorial service in Johannesburg and smiled as he watched them celebrate his legacy, said Mr Andrew Mokete Mlangeni, a Catholic who was imprisoned for decades with the late anti-apartheid icon.

at the FNB Stadium on Dec 10 after prayers by Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu leaders, 87-year-old Mr Mlangeni said it was a â&#x20AC;&#x153;privilege and honour to say how Madiba touched my heart, my soul, my lifeâ&#x20AC;?. Madiba was Mr Mandelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clan name. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He touched many lives around the world. I am overjoyed by the outpouring of love and admiration by all of you here today,â&#x20AC;? Mr Mlangeni said.

Mr Mlangeni, who was on trial with Mr Mandela in 196364 and imprisoned with him on Robben Island, said he had occupied a cell next to Mr Mandela.

In prison, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Madiba exuded leadershipâ&#x20AC;?, said Mr Mlangeni, who was released in late 1989, shortly before the start of negotiations that ended apartheid. & & enced â&#x20AC;&#x153;my own evolvement as a man, South African citizen and ANC [African National Congress] memberâ&#x20AC;?, he said, noting that â&#x20AC;&#x153;without his guidance and leadership I would not have been the person I am todayâ&#x20AC;?.

Mr Mandelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatness stemmed from his humility â&#x20AC;&#x153;and his belief in collective leadershipâ&#x20AC;?, Mr Mlangeni said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He created hope when there was noneâ&#x20AC;? and was an inspiration to billions by â&#x20AC;&#x153;epitomising the Â&#x201A; he said.

Mr Mandela â&#x20AC;&#x153;negotiated the way forward in our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s darkest hourâ&#x20AC;?, he said. <

against racial domination was done â&#x20AC;&#x153;not by force, but with understanding and loveâ&#x20AC;?, Mr Mlangeni said, noting that â&#x20AC;&#x153;it was his goal to unite all colours and creeds to live together in mutual respect and kindnessâ&#x20AC;?.

Anti-apartheid political pris  Â&#x201A; prisonment, which undermined their health and well-being, yet on his release Mr Mandela â&#x20AC;&#x153;remained a man of integrityâ&#x20AC;? and an â&#x20AC;&#x153;incomparable forceâ&#x20AC;?, Mr Mlangeni told tens of thousands who braved the rain for the memorial.

The service was said to have been one of the biggest gatherings of world leaders, with nearly

People gather at the national memorial service of former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg on Dec 10. Mr Mandela died on Dec 5 at age 95.

100 presidents, kings, dukes, sheiks and celebrities in attendance. Pope Francis sent a special envoy, Cardinal Peter Turk # Council for Justice and Peace.

It is a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;privilege and honour to say how Madiba [Mr Mandela] touched my heart, my soul, my lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, said Mr Andrew Mokete Mlangeni, a Catholic who was imprisoned for decades with him.

Archbishop William Slattery of Pretoria represented the Southern African Catholic Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference.

Speaking Afrikaans and Xhosa before switching to English, Nobel peace laureate and retired

Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu said that Mr Mandela was â&#x20AC;&#x153;a great giftâ&#x20AC;?.

He urged those present to join him in this pledge: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We promise God that we are going to follow the example of [Mr] Nelson Mandela.â&#x20AC;?

In a prayer at the start, Anglican Archbishop Thabo C Makgoba of Cape Town asked God Â

foundations left by Madibaâ&#x20AC;? and to â&#x20AC;&#x153;give us the grace to live the values of Madiba and to share them with the worldâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Go forth revolutionary and loving soul...Go home Madiba, you have certainly done all that is noble,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again,â&#x20AC;? said US President Barack Obama, who was also present at the memorial. â&#x20AC;&#x153;May God bless the soul of Nelson Mandela, may God bless the people of South Africa.â&#x20AC;? Â&#x201E; CNS

Christian Church leaders speak of Mandela as an inspiration WASHINGTON â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pope Francis

When Mr Mandela was rejoined Church and government leased from prison, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the country leaders from around the world in was in turmoil and blood was being crediting Mr Nelson Mandela for spilt almost dailyâ&#x20AC;?, the bishops said. a steadfast commitment to proâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Through his leadership at that moting human rights and uphold- time, reinforced when he became ing the dignity of all people in re- president in 1994, he led the counsponse to the death on Dec 5 of the try on the path of reconciliation and former president of South Africa. peace, calling on South Africans to In a message to South Africa throw all arms of destruction into President Jacob Zuma, Pope Fran- the sea. For this we shall always be cis said he offered a prayer to assure indebted to him,â&#x20AC;? they said. that Mr Mandelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to forge a In a personal statement, Archnew nation based on nonviolence, bishop Brislin said Mr Mandela inreconciliation and truth after the spired the world. To honour Manapartheid era â&#x20AC;&#x153;will inspire genera- delaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s memory and continue the tions of South Africans to put justice struggle for justice in South Africa and the common good at the fore- and elsewhere, people must continfront of their political aspirationsâ&#x20AC;?. ue to seek a just order that includes The pontiff also asked God all people, ends discrimination, to â&#x20AC;&#x153;console and eradicates poverty, strengthen all who ensures that peomourn [Mandelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] ple live in dignity, lossâ&#x20AC;?. have honest govMr Mandela, ernments untainted who had been batby corruption and tling complications care for the poorest from a lung infecand most vulnertion, died at his able people in socihome in Johannesety, he said. burg. He was 95.

Fr SmangalThe Catholic iso Mkhatshwa, Church in Southern a South African Africa said the death Former South African Presi- priest who served of Mr Mandela dent Nelson Mandela CNS photo in Mr Mandelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brought great sadcabinet, said the ness and expressed its gratitude â&#x20AC;&#x153;for former president â&#x20AC;&#x153;was such a servant of the people that I someof South Africa and for the leader- times thought, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This man should ship and inspiration he gave in lead- have been a priest, not me.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? ing us on the path of reconciliationâ&#x20AC;?.

The priest, who now heads â&#x20AC;&#x153;The greatest way we can ac- South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Moral Regeneraknowledge the life of Mr Nelson tion Movement, said that as depMandela is to strive for the ideals uty minister of education he once he cherished: freedom, equality opened a new school in a poor and democracy, and to defend these rural area of South Africa in Mr ideals from those who would cor- Mandelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence. rupt them,â&#x20AC;? the Southern African â&#x20AC;&#x153;I felt so small and wondered Catholic Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference said < _ in a statement signed by Archbish- ciate. But he put his hand on my op Stephen Brislin of Cape Town. shoulder and said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Smangaliso, Mr Mandela â&#x20AC;&#x153;never compro- this is your day. I am here to stand mised on his principles and vision next to you and give you support.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; for a democratic and just South That was the kind of man he was,â&#x20AC;?

Africa where all have equal oppor- Fr Mkhatshwa said in a Dec 6 teltunities, even at great cost to his ephone interview from Johannesown freedomâ&#x20AC;?, the statement said. burg. Â&#x201E; CNS

12 WORLD

Sunday December 29, 2013 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Focolare requests opening founderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sainthood cause CNS Photo

VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The head of the

Focolare movement formally requested the opening of a diocesan inquiry into the life and holiness of the movementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s founder, Chiara Lubich.

Ms Maria Voce, president of Focolare, presented the request to Bishop Raffaello Martinelli of Frascati, Italy, on Dec 7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the anniversary of the movementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s founding in 1943.

A sainthood process nor

years after the death of the potential candidate. Lubich died in March 14, 2008, at age 88.

The Congregation for Saintsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Causes would have to authorise the opening of the diocesan inquiry, which would study Lubichâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s writings and interview people who knew her.

Lubich was born in Trent, Italy, in 1920, and was christened Silvia. Her admiration of St Clare of Assisi led her to adopt the name Chiara, the Italian form of Clare.

In 1943, after consulting a priest, she privately took vows consecrating herself to God and began forming a circle of friends who read the Gospels together.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A messenger of

hope and peace, founder of a vast spiritual family.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pope Benedict XVIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

tribute to Chiara Lubich

Focolare founder Chiara Lubich

The women then decided to form a community and share everything they had with each other and with the poor. They sought a sense of family gathered around a hearth â&#x20AC;&#x201C; focolare in Italian.

The lay movement aims to promote world unity through the living witness of Christian love and holiness in the family and small communities. It opened an ecumenical chapter in 1961 and began forging ties with Jews, Buddhists, Muslims,

Hindus and others in the 1970s.

Focolare now has more than two million members and associates in 182 countries.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI, in a message read at her funeral, called her â&#x20AC;&#x153;a messenger of hope and peace, founder of a vast spiritual family that embraces

tionâ&#x20AC;? from spirituality for families to a project that encourages business owners to embrace an â&#x20AC;&#x153;economy of communionâ&#x20AC;? or sharing.

Lubich was awarded the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion in 1977 and the UNESCO Peace Education Prize in 1996. Â&#x201E; CNS

POPE FRANCIS 13

Sunday December 29, 2013 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Pope calls for action against hunger in a world of plenty VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; People must

stand united against the scandal of hunger while avoiding food waste and irresponsible use of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resources, Pope Francis said.

People should â&#x20AC;&#x153;stop thinking that our daily actions do not have an impact on the lives of those

handâ&#x20AC;?, he said in a video message on Dec 9, launching a global campaign of prayer and action against hunger. '

^ tionalis, the Vatican-based federation of Catholic charities, a global â&#x20AC;&#x153;wave of prayerâ&#x20AC;? was to begin at noon on Dec 10 on the " # " and head west across the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time zones.

Pope Francis offered his

' Human Family, Food For All campaign in a video message released on the eve of the global launch.

With about one billion people still suffering from hunger today, â&#x20AC;&#x153;we cannot look the other way and pretend this does not existâ&#x20AC;?, he said in the message.

There is enough food in the world to feed everyone, he said, but only â&#x20AC;&#x153;if there is the willâ&#x20AC;? to

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; ) â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pope Francis launching a global campaign of prayer and action against hunger

Logo for Caritas Internationalisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Logo for Caritas Internationalisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; campaign against hunger.

respect the â&#x20AC;&#x153;God-given rights of everyone to have access to adequate foodâ&#x20AC;?.

By sharing in Christian charity with those â&#x20AC;&#x153;who face numerous obstaclesâ&#x20AC;?, the pope said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;we promote an authentic cooperation with the poor so that, through the fruits of their and our _

lifeâ&#x20AC;?.

Pope Francis invited all people to act â&#x20AC;&#x153;as one single human family, to give a voice to all of those who suffer silently from hunger, so that this voice becomes a roar which can shake the worldâ&#x20AC;?.

The Caritas campaign is also a way to invite people to pay attention to their own food choices, â&#x20AC;&#x153;which often lead to waste and a poor use of the resources available to usâ&#x20AC;?, the pope said.

Caritas Internationalis invited its 164 member organisations and local Churches to pray for an end to hunger and malnutrition, by acting on a local, national or global level against food waste and in favour of food access and security worldwide.

The Caritas campaign is also calling on the United Nations to hold a session on the right to food at its 2015 General Assembly and is asking governments to guarantee the right to food in national legislation. Â&#x201E;

called on Catholics worldwide ' } who were kidnapped in Syria and for all people who have

there. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keep praying and working together for peace,â&#x20AC;? he said in an appeal at the end of his weekly general audience in St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Square on Dec 4.

The pope invited everyone to pray for the nuns who â&#x20AC;&#x153;were forcibly taken away by armed menâ&#x20AC;? on Dec 1. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let us pray for these Sisters and for all people abducted be Â&#x201A; he said, before leading the crowd in praying the Hail Mary in Italian.

The kidnapping of the nuns from a Christian village near Damascus shocked Syriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chris Christians with fear, said Chaldean Bishop Antoine Audo of Aleppo, Syria.

! ' (

) )

* Speaking to Vatican Radio on Dec 3, Bishop Audo said the latest information was that the superior and four of the nuns be

' } & tery of Santa Tecla in Maaloula were kidnapped during the night on Dec 1 and taken to Yabrud, a city nearby. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have no more information,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Most media reports on the kidnapping, including by the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sana news agency, speculated the kidnapping was the work of the Al Nusra Front, which the US State Department

tion linked to Al-Qaeda. Early reports said 12 nuns were kidnapped.

Bishop Audo told Vatican Radio, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maaloula is an important

VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Concelebrating

Mass with the leader of Egyptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coptic Catholics, Pope Francis prayed for the safety and religious liberty of Christians in the Middle East. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let real guarantees of religious liberty be given to all, together with the rights of Christians to live peacefully in the places where they were born, in the native country they love as citizens of more than 2,000 years, in order that they might contribute as always to the good of all,â&#x20AC;? the pope said on Dec 9 during morning Mass in the Vatican guesthouse, where he lives.

Pope Francis concelebrated the Mass with Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak of Alexandria, Egypt, who had come to make his traditional gesture of â&#x20AC;&#x153;ecclesiastical communionâ&#x20AC;? with the Holy See, following his appointment in January by Pope Benedict XVI. The patriarch told Pope Francis that the Coptic Catholic Church, â&#x20AC;&#x153;in this delicate historical moment, needs the support of your paternal embraceâ&#x20AC;?, and prayed that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;light of the holy Nativity might be the star that reveals the

path of love, of unity, of reconciliation, and of peace, gifts of which my land has such great needâ&#x20AC;?.

As many as 300,000 Christians have left Egypt for other countries since 2011, when a popular revolution ended the nearly 30-year secular rule of President Hosni Mubarak.

Following the military overthrow of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013, violence has surged, most of it targeting Egyptian government facilities but also the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christians.

In August, more than 70 churches around the country were burned, ransacked and looted. Christians make up about 10 percent of Egyptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population of 85 million, which is 90 percent Muslim. Catholics in Egypt, who are in full communion with Rome, number about 165,000.

In his homily, Pope Francis also prayed for peace between Israelis and Palestinians and throughout the Middle East. Â Â&#x201E; that in the Holy Land and all the Middle East, peace might be able to rise from the often recurring and sometimes dramatic breaksâ&#x20AC;? in the peace process, he said. Â&#x201E; CNS

CNS

+

/

Pontiff urges prayers for nuns kidnapped in Syria VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pope Francis

Church leaders pray for Christians in the Middle East

symbol not only for Christians, but also for Muslims in Syria and throughout the Middle East, because it is known that people there still speak the Aramaic dialect, the language of Christ.

That is one of the reason people are so struckâ&#x20AC;? by the kidnapping of the Sisters and the rebelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; capturing the town in early December.

As for the motive of the kidnapping, Bishop Audo said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the Â&#x201A; â&#x20AC;&#x153;As Christians, as the Church in Syria, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to say this is a war against Christians because we want to be a presence for reconciliation and coexistence. That is our vocation. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to create provocations with the Muslims.â&#x20AC;?

However, he said, Christians feel more threatened now because the kidnapping has brought the war â&#x20AC;&#x153;to a sacred Christian place, one where for centuries nothing like this has happenedâ&#x20AC;?. Â&#x201E; CNS

A priest baptises a child at a Coptic Orthodox church in Cairo. Christians have been attacked following the overthrow of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi in July. CNS photo

Pope speaks on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sense of the faithfulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to theologians VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pope Francis said the Church must pay attention to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;sense of the faithfulâ&#x20AC;? (sen % ) when exercising its teaching authority, but never confuse that sense with popular opinion on matters of faith.

The pope made his comments on Dec 6, in an address to members of the International Theological Commission, a Vatican advisory body. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By the gift of the Holy Spirit, the members of the Church possess the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sense of the faithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a question of a kind of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;spiritual instinctâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which permits us to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;think with the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and discern what is consistent with the apostolic faith and the spirit of the Gospel.â&#x20AC;?

The pope said the magisterium, the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teaching authority, has the â&#x20AC;&#x153;duty to pay attention to what the Spirit tells the Church

through authentic manifestations of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sense of the faithfulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?.

But he told the theologians this sense â&#x20AC;&#x153;must not be confused with the sociological reality of majority opinion. That is something else.

It is therefore important, and it is your task, to elaborate the criteria that permit discernment of authentic expressions of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sense of the faithfulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.â&#x20AC;?

Citing his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis said theologians â&#x20AC;&#x153;must always listen to the faith as lived by the humble and little ones, to whom it has pleased the Father to reveal what He has hidden from the learned and the wiseâ&#x20AC;?.

Joking that he was not trying to give â&#x20AC;&#x153;publicity to the Jesuitsâ&#x20AC;?, the pope recalled that even his orderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s founder, St Ignatius Loyola, used to teach the catechism to children. Â&#x201E; CNS

14 POPE FRANCIS

Sunday December 29, 2013 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

CNS photo/Time Inc, handout via Reuters

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has a new player on the world stage â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rarely captured so much attention so quickly.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;for better or worse ... has done

Â&#x201A; Â _ and success because he serves to Â&#x2030; Â&#x2030; < Â&#x201A; @ Â&#x201E; bardi said. But if the recognition â&#x20AC;&#x153;attracts women and men

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â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Time magazine

Pope Francis is Time magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Person of the Year.

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one of the sounds associated with

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The Church, like Jesus, must be joyful, says pope VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; joy of be-

ing united with God and doing Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work on earth is the same joy that the Church should have as % < # Francis said.

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Â&#x160; Â&#x201E; & groom is the Lord. He is God. He _ <Â&#x201A; Â&#x201E; CNS

POPE FRANCIS 15

Sunday December 29, 2013 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Pope to set up advisory commission on sexual abuse CNS photo

VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pope Francis

accepted a proposal to set up a special commission on the sexual abuse of children, which will advise him on ways to prevent abuse and provide pastoral care for victims and their families.

Cardinal Sean P Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Malley of Boston, a member of the popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advisory Council of Cardinals, announced the decision at a Vati

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of children, and to come up with

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the Vatican, in collaboration with national bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; conferences and Â&#x2C6;

\ _ % @ @ Lombardi, Pope Francis heard the ` Â&#x2021;

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The council, which the pope formally established in September

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Boston Cardinal Sean P Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Malley (left), a member of Pope Francisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; advisory Council of Cardinals, and Vatican spokesman Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi at a press conference on Dec 5.

ance and reform of the Vatican bu

initial three-day session in October.

Cardinal Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Malley said the new sex abuse commission would be of international composition,

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members will be persons with â&#x20AC;&#x153;competence in the safety of children, relations with victims, men Â&#x201A; other relevant subjects, he said.

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cal bishops will remain responsible for the safety of children in their dioceses, the cardinal said; but the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Holy See will try to be helpful and

Â&#x201A; The cardinal said he did not _ would play any role in disciplin

punish sex abuse by those under their authority. ^ ~|{{ \ the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; conferences to

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a quarter had failed to comply. Â&#x201E; CNS

Discussions to reorganise Roman Curia begin in Vatican VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pope Francis and

tional Council of Cardinals have

Â&#x2C6; Curia with the aim of â&#x20AC;&#x153;a renewal

This 25m tall Vatican Christmas tree at St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Square is a gift from people in Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bavarian region. A worker on a lift is seen decorating the tree on Dec 6.

CNS photo

that will truly be a service to the Â&#x201A; \ _ On the second day of the coun < ` =Â&#x2039; % @ @ Â&#x201E; _ -

man, said the cardinals planned to _

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Â&#x201A; elected Pope Francis in March.

The pope and his Council of Cardinals, named in April, were

 _ + Â&#x201A; > % # ^^< {Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC; the Roman Curia, but rather expected to draft a completely new apostolic constitution. Â&#x201E; CNS

16 OPINION

Sunday December 29, 2013 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

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Every tear brings the Messiah close PEOPLE are always impatient, but God is â&#x20AC;&#x153;never in a hurryâ&#x20AC;?! Greek writer and philosopher Nikos Kazantzakis made this comment and it highlights an impor Â&#x2020; Â&#x201D;

with God. We need to let things unfold in their proper time, Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time.

Looking at religious history through the centuries, we cannot help but be struck by the fact that God seemingly takes His time in the face of our impatience. Our scriptures are often a record of frustrated desire, of non ^ < } God intervenes directly and decisively to resolve a particular human tension. We are always longing for a Messiah to take away our pain and to avenge oppression, but mostly those prayers seem to fall on deaf ears.

And so we see in scripture the constant, painful cry: Come, Lord, come! Save us! How much longer must we wait? When, Lord, when?

Why not now? We are forever impatient, but God refuses to be hur Â&#x201D; Â&#x161; Â&#x201D; Â&#x2030; Â&#x161; ^ Â&#x2030; our suffering? Why is God so patient, so plodding in His plan, when < Â&#x161; Â&#x201D; Â&#x2030; }

in the face of human impatience?

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a line in Jewish apocalyptic literature, which metaphorically, helps answer this question: Every tear brings the Messiah closer!

There is, it would seem, an intrinsic connection between frustration

&

^ & can only be born after a long period of human yearning. Why? Human birth already helps answer that question, gestation cannot be hurried and there is an organic connection between the pain a moth } < also true of Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; birth. Advent is a gestation process that cannot be rushed. Tears, pain, and a long season of prayer are needed to create the conditions for the kind of pregnancy that brings forth a Messiah into our world. Why? Because the real love and life can only be born when a long-suffering patience has created the correct space, the virginal womb, within which the sublime can be born. Perhaps a couple of metaphors can help us understand this. " % }

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drying out. Only when it reaches kindling temperature can it ignite

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out, a period of frustration and yearning. So, too, the dynamics of how real love is born in our lives. We can ignite into love only when we,

Â&#x192;Â&#x192; _ Â&#x192;Â&#x192; French philosopher and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin offers a second metaphor here when he speaks of something he calls  Â&#x201A; ^ < possible to place two elements in the same test tube and not get fusion.

^ are heated to a higher temperature that they unite. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re no different. ' < thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fusion, that is, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only when unrequited longing has raised our tion and union. Simply put, sometimes we have to be brought to a high fever through frustration and pain before we are willing to let go of

Czech public intellectual, scholar and Catholic priest TomĂĄĹĄ HalĂ­k once commented that an atheist is simply another term for someone who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have enough patience with God. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right. God is never in a hurry, and for good reason. Messiahs can only be born inside a particular kind of womb, namely, one within which thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enough patience and willingness to wait so as to let things happen on Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s terms, not ours.

Hence, ideally, every tear should bring the Messiah closer. This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t an unfathomable mystery: Every frustration should, ideally, make us more ready to love. Every tear should, ideally, make us more ready to forgive. Every heartache should, ideally, make us more ready to

Â&#x2014;

ideally, lead us into a deeper and more sincere prayer. And all of our pained impatience for a consummation that seems to forever elude us _

<

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that the life of the Spirit is brought forth! Â&#x201E;

FEATURE 17

Sunday December 29, 2013 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

between Advent and Christmas MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; In the Philippines, the Christmas season starts in Sep

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18 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday December 29, 2013 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

A detail of a stained-glass window from St Edwardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church in Seattle shows & & '

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Few things are as popular today as genealogy. Everyone seeks to know more about their ancestry, and websites and television shows pique

great-grandfather we never knew.

Despite the recent fad, genealogy has been important since ancient times, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear from Scripture that knowledge of ancestry was considered essential by the Hebrew people and by the Gospel writers who gave us a picture of Christ.

Matthew and Luke thought it important to take us through a long line of Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ancestors to place Him within the context of human history. Although both writers give us Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lineage, we know that the person who gave Jesus His human makeup, of her body and blood, was Mary.

Mary is near and familiar to us as Catholics, and yet mysterious. Sometimes we yearn for her comfort and other times we puzzle about who she really was. Little is told of her in Scripture, and much of our beliefs about her come to us through tradition.

The Christmas story brings us closest to her, as we envision a

young woman tasked with a great responsibility, yet one bathed in our common humanity. We are told the shadow of the Most High overpowered her, and yet the result was that most human of occasions, the birth of a child, with its pain and messiness and extraordinary joy.

Mary brought a little boy into this weary world, and at her knee, He received some of the greatest gifts ever, particularly learning about His motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ancestry.

Jesus learned about His Jewish heritage and what it was to be a man.

In her kitchen, He shared laughter and stories with her. He witnessed her example of courage and forbearance. She taught Him the songs and customs of her lineage. No doubt, Jesus heard from Mary tales of her parents and grandparents, the family lore and legends of people long past.

Christmas lets us unwrap the great gift of intimacy that Mary had with Jesus, and not see her as a plastic statue that may seem unworldly.

Mary is near and familiar to us as Catholics, and yet mysterious. In Christmas we are brought closest to her, envisioning a young woman tasked with a great responsibility but also bathed in our common humanity.

It was Mary who kissed Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; childhood cuts and scrapes, and who enforced the household rules.

To Him, she passed on faith and a life of a prayer that He would carry throughout life. She searched for Him, with Joseph, when she thought He was lost. She lay awake in the dark waiting for His footsteps when He grew older. She dreamed the dreams of every mother, the ones she treasured in her heart.

It was Mary who told the people at the wedding, and through

them all of us, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do whatever He tells you.â&#x20AC;? It was Mary who stood at the foot of the cross, heartbroken but loyal and present until the end.

Christmas offers us the opportunity to unwrap the great gift of intimacy that Mary shared with her son and that we can share with others. It offers us a chance to throw off the preconceived ideas we have of this woman, the plastic statue that sometimes seems unworldly.

Mary was wholly of this world, and through her we were given the

gift of touching God, and of being kin to God. Through her, Jesus came into our earthly existence, a divine spark that embraced all our lowly humanity and made us brothers and sisters.

Spending time with this woman, our sister, at Christmas time is a wonderful way to connect the human and the divine, to be with someone who touched heaven and earth, who united her ancestors to all of their descendants, including us, in one family.

Mary impels us to connect with our own heritage, the beauty of our Hebrew and Christian roots, the wealth of our Catholic tradition, the remembrance of our parents and grandparents who also were touched by the birth of a tiny baby to a poor young woman of ancient stock. Â&#x201E; CNS Caldarola is a freelance writer and a columnist for Catholic News Service.

:H QHHG WKH &KULVWPDV VSLULW DW D

By Erick Rommel

Actors dressed for their annual live Nativity scene are pictured in front of Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Supreme Court.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;TIS the season to speak of the Christmas spirit.

You know what that is. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a feeling experienced every December. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the warmth that comes from happiness created by nothing more than watching joy on other peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faces. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the unexpected kindness that bond people who otherwise have little in common. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the seasonal energy that makes people proudly sing songs they would dismiss at other times of the year.

Those songs express the Christmas spirit better than anything I could possibly say and, in turn,

they create and enhance the spirit they lovingly embrace. One of the most cheerful of these is We Need a Little Christmas.

Who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tap their toes and feel joy when they read the words, â&#x20AC;&#x153;For we need a little Christmas, right this very minute, candles in the window, carols at the spinet.â&#x20AC;?

The energy of the words and music create a feeling that can only be described as â&#x20AC;&#x153;the Christmas spiritâ&#x20AC;?.

But, like many Christmas songs,

We Need a Little Christmas is far from the joyous romp we expect.

The message behind the lyric is actually one of sorrow. The words, â&#x20AC;&#x153;For Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve grown a little leaner, grown a little colder, grown a little sadder, grown a little older,â&#x20AC;? are far from cheery. Without the upbeat music, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re depressing and melancholy.

Once you know the songâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to understand why. Â&#x201E; Continued on Page 19

There are many occasions when each of us needs a little Christmas. In the end, we need a little Christmas every month of the year.

FAITH ALIVE! 19

Sunday December 29, 2013 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

By David Gibson Is there something magical in Christmas gifts? Children think so.

As if struck by a holiday contagion, children hunt feverishly, furtively among the packages under the Christmas tree during the last days before the big day, hoping to learn precisely what magic awaits them there.

But what adults learned over time and children have yet to discover is that the most magical gifts on Christmas are not hidden under the tree.

Consider the four-year-oldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

mom or dad under a preschool teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s watchful eye. Parents celebrate these gifts excitedly.

True, the parents are happy at their childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s increased ability to cut out and glue rough drawings onto colorful construction paper. But isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it less the craft and far more the child that the parents celebrate when the gift is presented?

The child is the true gift here.

And as Pope Francis might put it, the love between these parents and their child creates music in their home.

It is precisely this kind of music that households everywhere hope to play loudly on Christmas. They have the popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assurance that this music mixes well with home-based fun.

A home is a crucial place where gifts are given and received, the pope made clear. For him, a home is â&#x20AC;&#x153;where life grows and can be ful

every person learns to receive love and to give loveâ&#x20AC;?.

I will enjoy gifts that come wrapped in colourful packages.

And when I open something handmade for me by a grandchild, I will relish the gift while celebrating the giver far more.

Truth be told, however, to dis

Christmas, it is essential to do what the shepherds did the night Jesus was born: Be watchful.

The watchful shepherds were fearful when â&#x20AC;&#x153;the angel of the Lord

The most magical gifts of Christmas are not the actual gifts, but rather the giver.

appeared to themâ&#x20AC;? (Lk 2:9-10). But soon, upon arriving in Bethlehem, their fears dissipated, replaced by excited joy.

It is a great gift when someone eases our fears or clears a space for hope.

Something as small as the smile on the right personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face can be an amazing gift on Christmas. Some-

When I open a handmade gift, I will relish the gift while celebrating the giver far more. one elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s announced plan to make important, needed life changes might be received not as a magical gift, but a miraculous one.

So be watchful on Christmas.

Be on the lookout for â&#x20AC;&#x153;what the Spirit has sownâ&#x20AC;? in others as a gift for you. Â&#x201E; CNS Gibson served on Catholic News Serviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s editorial staff for 37 years.

W DOO WLPHV RI WKH \HDU Â&#x201E; From Page 18

Originally written for the musical Mame, the song We Need a Little Christmas is sung by a woman who has lost her fortune. She needs some Christmas in her life so she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall into a depression.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a feeling that affects all of us from time to time.

There are many occasions when each of us needs a little Christmas.

Sometimes that feeling comes in December. At other times, it comes in July. Why must we limit the creation of that feeling to the limited number of weeks that we vaguely call â&#x20AC;&#x153;the holiday seasonâ&#x20AC;??

Last month, I spent a week at Walt Disney World. When we arrived, the theme park was having its Halloween party. Creepy music played throughout the park and guests and cast members wore scary costumes.

The day before we left, exactly one week later, we attended the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christmas. The lit pumpkins and headless horseman were replaced by Christmas lights, carols and hot chocolate with sugar cookies.

When we left the park, we had the Christmas spirit, even though the

week of November. Some would say such an early celebration is a

sign of the holidayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercialisation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and to some degree, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right. But it was also a reminder that the lessons of compassion and caring we fondly recall every December shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be promptly forgotten before ringing in the new year.

In the end, we need a little Christmas every month of the year.

We need a little music. We need a little laughter. We need a little singing, ringing through the rafter.

If all we need is a little hope and a little love to discover the Christmas spirit and reach a â&#x20AC;&#x153;snappy happy every afterâ&#x20AC;?, then I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anything wrong in saying we need a little Christmas now. Â&#x201E; CNS

20

Sunday December 29, 2013 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

By Joe Sarnicola

wife into his home, and when the boy was born, they named Him Jesus.

BEFORE Joseph and Mary lived togethJesus was born in Bethlehem, er as husband and wife, Mary was with when Herod was king. Magi from the child by the power of the Holy Spirit. east came to Jerusalem and asked, In order not to cause her any shame, Jo- â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where is the newborn king of the seph was going to divorce her quietly, Jews? We saw His star at its rising and but God had something else planned. have come to do Him homage.â&#x20AC;?

An angel appeared to Joseph in When word of this reached Hera dream and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Joseph, son of Da- od, he was very upset. He called the vid, do not be afraid to take Mary your chief priests and the scribes and asked wife into your home. For it is through them where the Messiah was going to the Holy Spirit that this child has been be born. His advisers said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In Bethconceived in her. She will bear a son lehem of Judea, for thus it has been and you are to name Him Jesus, be- written through the prophet: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;And cause He will save His people from you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by their sins.â&#x20AC;? no means least among the rulers of Ju dah; since from you shall come a ruler, the prophecy of Isaiah that said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be- who is to shepherd my people Israel.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? hold, the virgin shall be with child and After this Herod sent for the bear a son, and they shall name Him Magi and met with them secretly so Emmanuel,â&#x20AC;? which means, â&#x20AC;&#x153;God is

with usâ&#x20AC;?. When Joseph woke up, he the child had been born and where He obeyed the angel and took Mary as his might be. He sent the Magi to Beth-

Sts Theodore and Theophanes

Wordsearch: Â&#x201E; Husband Â&#x201E; Adviser Â&#x201E; Shepherd

Â&#x201E; Angel Â&#x201E; Prophet Â&#x201E; Messiah

gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

They were warned in a dream not to report to Herod, so they returned home by a different route. Â&#x201E; Read more about it: Matthew 1 and 2

Q&A 1. What did the angel tell Joseph to do?

2. What did Herod want the Magi to tell him?

Â&#x201E; Baby Â&#x201E; Scribes Â&#x201E; Newborn

Theodore (d. 841) and Theophanes (d. 845) were brothers who had moved with their family to Jerusalem from the land that at one time had belonged to the Moabites. Early in their lives they both became monks in the monastery of St Sabas, and they both earned recognition for their intelligence and goodness.

When Leo the Isaurian began a crusade against holy images, the patriarch of Jerusalem sent Theodore to plead with him to leave the Church alone. Leo had Theodore whipped and banished him and his brother to a remote island where they endured cold and hunger.

The two men were imprisoned and tortured for their faith several times during their lives. Theodore died as a martyr, but his brother was returned to his position and composed many hymns. We honour these men on Dec 27. Â&#x201E;

BIBLE TRIVIA: Matthew 1 traces the earthly history of Jesus back as far as which ancestor?

Bible Accent:

Answers to Puzzle: 1. Exodus, 2. Proverbs, 3. Jeremiah, 4. Malachi, 5. Luke, 6. Ephesians, 7. James, 8. Revelation Answer to Bible Trivia Abraham

The Magi, also called the Wise Men, came looking for the newborn Jesus â&#x20AC;&#x153;from the eastâ&#x20AC;?, which may have been Arabia, Mesopotamia or another country in that part of the world at the time. They also may have been astrologers, since they followed a particular star as they travelled. They also were Gentiles, not Jews.

Over the years tradition says there were three Wise Men, because of the three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These traditions, including giving the men the names of Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar, were the basis for the song, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We Three Kingsâ&#x20AC;?. We celebrate the day the Magi found Jesus as the feast of the Epiphany in January. Â&#x201E;

PUZZLE: Can you name the books that come immediately after the following books of the Bible? For example, Mark comes after Matthew.

1. Genesis

___________

5. Mark

___________

2. Psalms

___________

6. Galatians

___________

3. Isaiah

___________

7. Hebrews

___________

4. Zechariah

___________

8. Jude

___________

Answer to Wordsearch

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

lehem and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do Him homage.â&#x20AC;?

The Magi went in search of Jesus, continuing to follow the star that had led them since they had left their home. The star was directly over the birthplace of Jesus. The men were very happy they had found the baby they had been searching for. When they saw Jesus with His mother, they gave Him

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON 21

Sunday December 29, 2013 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

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

THURSDAYS DECEMBER 19 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL 7.45pm: At Church of St Michael (17 St Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Road). Register T: 9090 5308; E: midorimiguel@hotmail.com

DECEMBER 22 PRAYER SERVICE FOR SPIRITUAL PREPARATION 7.30pm: Rev Deacons Jude David and Terence Kesavan will be sharing their vocation stories. At Church of St Francis Xavier Parish Hall (63A Chartwell Drive).

SUNDAYS JANUARY 5, 2014 RCIY @ CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY 11am-1pm: For youth between the ages of 13 to 24. At Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (24 Highland Rd). Register T: 98751235 ¢` ÂŁ ÂĄ Â&#x2018;Â&#x152;{|Â&#x2DC;{Â&#x2021;Â&#x2039; ¢" ÂŁÂ E: rciyihm@gmail.com.

DECEMBER 24 CHRISTMAS PAGEANT 7pm &10.45pm: Written and directed

by Sylvia Ang and Brian Bartholomew.

At Christmas, a family is reminded of hope. At Church of St Michael. All welcome. E: jandap13@hotmail.com; W: www.saintmichael.sg

JANUARY 11 2014 FELIZ NAVIDAD =Â&#x2018; Â&#x2020; = ¤ Â&#x203A; Year celebration with exciting games, group activities, amazing music, skits, choreography, spiritual talks, carols, dinner etc. By Jesus Youth Singapore Campus Ministry. Calling all students of Â&#x20AC; ÂĄ% ÂĄ# ÂĄ^ Â&#x2014; of the Risen Christ Parish Hall (91 Toa Payoh Central). Register by Jan 5. T: Â&#x2018;||Â&#x2013; {Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021; ¢@ ÂŁ Â&#x201D;Â&#x2020; Â&#x2020;ÂĄÂĄ

+ ÂĄ ÂĄ Â&#x192;=

MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE Q1 starts 23 Feb - 30 Mar 2014 Q2 starts 27 Apr - 01 Jun 2014 Q3 starts 20 Jul - 24 Aug 2014 Q4 starts 12 Oct - 16 Nov 2014 For couples intending to get married, please register early as the course runs for 6 weeks at one session per week. = = = Â&#x2C6; Â&#x2020; #

application forms from your Parish ' Â Â&#x201D;Â&#x2020;

ÂĄ Â&#x2020; Â&#x2018; Â&#x2013;Â&#x152; Â&#x2021;{{ ¢# ÂĄÂ&#x2C6; ÂŁÂ E: mpcsingapore@gmail.com

JANUARY 11 2014 MEDITATIVE PRAYER WITH TAIZE CHANTS 8-9.30pm: At The Armenian Church of St Gregory the Illuminator (60 Hill Street). T: 9837 7256 (Benny); E: bennycah@gmail.com

MONDAYS JANUARY 6 TO MARCH 17 2014 LANDINGS 8-10pm: Know someone whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been away from Church and wishes to come back? Reach out to the away Catholics you know and connect them to Landings, a ministry that welcomes those exploring a return to Church.

At Church of the Holy Spirit. Register

by Dec 31. T: 9688 0920 (Tony); E: returning@landings.org.sg

SUNDAY JANURARY 12 TO SATURDAY JANUARY 18 2014 WEEK OF GUIDED PRAYER Learn to pray with Scriptures using Ignatian Contemplation and Lectio Divina. There will be one-on-one meetings with a prayer guide during the week. With taster

Crossword Puzzle 1100 1

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5

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8

9

10

14

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18

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24

34

35

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53 62

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44 48

51 54

63

31

40 43

50

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29

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13

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28 38

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25 27

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52 55

56 65

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18 Currency units 19 Leaf of a book 20 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Greatâ&#x20AC;? teacher of Aquinas 22 Prestigious 24 Patron saint of farmers 26 Yangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compliment 27 Word bk.

29 â&#x20AC;&#x153;____ Fidelesâ&#x20AC;?

34 â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was ____ joke.â&#x20AC;?

38 Launch grp.

40 The Lord, in Madrid (withâ&#x20AC;?Elâ&#x20AC;?)

41 Agape _____ 42 Take off the board 44 Infatuated 45 Vatican news service 47 Cart for heavy loads 48 Vacation sites 49 Rash 51 Jolly Roger hand 53 Science rm. Â&#x2039;Â&#x2039; #

JANUARY 12 2014 PRAYER SERVICE FOR VOCATIONS 5pm: To commemorate the sacerdotal golden jubilee of Archbishop Nicholas Chia who celebrates his 50th anniversary on Jan 26 at 5.30pm. At Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

WEDNESDAYS JANUARY 15 TO MARCH 26 2014 BIBLE STUDY OF EPISTLE TO HEBREWS 9.30-11.30am: The Letter to the Hebrews will help us to understand the Person of Christ as our High Priest: Please bring a Bible, CCC & a notebook. Cost: $10. By Bible Apostolate (A.M) of the Church of the Holy Spirit. At Church of the Holy Spirit (Room A2-01). Register T: 8228 8220 (Clare); E: HSBibleApostolate@ gmail.com Equiries: E: pastoral@ holyspirit.sgcyclops135an@gmail.com JANUARY 15 2014 SJI OPEN HOUSE FOR 2014 JC 1 APPLICATION 10 am-3pm: International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for boys and girls. IBDP information talks. Curriculum & CAS exhibitions. extended essays showcases.

Applications open for scholarships and merit bursaries. At 21 Bishan St 14.

Register W: www.sji.edu.sg; Enquiries E: ibdp_admissions@sji.edu.sg WEDNESDAYS JANUARY 15 TO MARCH 26 2014 THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION NARRATIVES OF JESUS CHRIST 8-10pm: Msgr Ambrose Vaz lectures on this Lenten course on The Passion & Resurrection Narratives of Jesus Christ. At Church of St Francis Xavier (St Mary Room). Register E: ronlee@ lucas.com.sg, maisielee21@gmail.com

DOWN 1 Wife of Abram 2 Paul was upset because of the number of these in Athens (Acts 17:16) 3 Title for Jesus 4 One of two names in a Catholic book publishing company 5 Tenet 6 Serpentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tail?

7 Hawaiian goose 8 Restless 9 â&#x20AC;&#x153;O Salutaris ____â&#x20AC;?

10 Leader of the Church 11 He was an original 12 Booth 13 TV horse, of course 21 â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śthy ____ and thy staff, they comfort me.â&#x20AC;? (Ps 23:4) 23 â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śto the ____ of the earth.â&#x20AC;? (Acts 1:8) 25 americangreetings. com product 28 Former Russian rulers

| Â&#x161; 31 Crack 32 Garment of ancient Rome 33 Gaslight and Good Feeling 34 Radio bands (abbr.)

35 Princess from Alderaan 36 1949 Gatsby portrayer 37 Knighted Catholic actor 39 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Same hereâ&#x20AC;?

43 Monocle 46 â&#x20AC;&#x153;You are the ____ of the earthâ&#x20AC;? (Mt 5:13) 50 Pity 52 Vane reading 54 Puff up 56 Elude 57 Greased Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC; > 59 Start to have an effect 60 Plant in the story of the fall 61 â&#x20AC;&#x153;____ Maryâ&#x20AC;?

62 Skating arena 63 Singles 64 Being (Lt.) 68 Aachen article

Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1099

www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

ACROSS 1 Catholics Ted Kennedy and Alec Guinness 5 Sister of Judah 10 Lenten foliage 14 Second woman mentioned by name in the Bible (Gen 4:19) 15 Terse bridge bid 16 Scent 17 The soldiers put a scarlet one on Jesus (Mt 27:28)

afternoon on Jan 12 from 2-5pm.

At Church of St Mary of the Angels.

Contribution: $30. Register Â&#x201D;Â&#x2020; Â&#x2020;ÂĄÂĄ

ÂĄ + Â E: sojourners@catholic.org.sg

60 65 66 67 69 70 71 72 73 74 75

Strangle Moses, for one Genesis weather One of the prophets Landed â&#x20AC;&#x153;____ Kleine Nacht Musikâ&#x20AC;?

Abraham was probably glad to see this in the desert Sandwich shop Part of BPOE British guns The Garden

D E B T S F R E D S O W S

A D O R E

R E L I C

E N D U R I R A N I N G T C E E R W T R A W E N I N D T O A

A D A M P E T E S K B G R L I O E W C P A

T I T H E C O O K S R A T

L A S A L S B A T F S R A I G A I N A I R N S S Y P E A E I C O N T R O T A A Z E T E N E S T

S T E A L S

H A G I

A L O T

M E S H

A R C A R M E A R T I I N O S N E

Y O K E

S E E D

I N T E R

O G L E D

www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

THURSDAYS JANUARY 16 TO MARCH 27 2014 THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION NARRATIVES OF JESUS CHRIST 8-10pm: Msgr Ambrose Vaz lectures on The Passion & Resurrection Narratives of Jesus Christ. All are welcome. Free.

At Church of St Ignatius Annexe Hall Level 2. E: henrythwu@gmail.com, TUESDAYS JANUARY 21 TO MAY 6 2014 GOSPEL OF ST MATTHEW 9.30-11.30am or 7.45-9.45pm: Find out about the message of Matthewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gospel, what it means to be a Kingdom People and how to become a Kingdom People? Cost: $100. > ' Â&#x203A; Â&#x2014; Â&#x192; At CAEC (2 Highland Rd).

Register T:6858 3011 (Christina); E: christina@one.org.sg SATURDAYS FEBRUARY 8 TO FEBRUARY 22 2014 THURSDAYS MARCH 6 TO APRIL 10 2014

COMMON SENSE PARENTING WORKSHOP 9am-1pm (for Sat); 7-9pm (for Thu): For parents of children aged 5 and above. The programme gives parents and caregivers a set of skills to manage behaviour of children and teens without affecting their self-esteem. Parents will learn and have the opportunity to practise a new a skill individually with a skilled and professional trainer. Cost $60 per person, $80 per couple. By Morning Star Community Services. At 4 Lorong Low Koon. Register T: 6285 1377; E:programs@morningstar.org.sg SATURDAYS FEBRUARY 29 TO MAY 30 2014 ALPHA COURSE 7.45-9.45pm: The Alpha Course provides an opportunity in a relaxed and informal environment to allow people to explore and talk about the Christian faith at their own pace, asking or discussing any questions they want. At Church of St Bernadette (12 Zion Rd). Register: 9798 7788 (Richard), 8322 5356 (Andy); E: andy_lee_4health@yahoo.com

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Sunday December 29, 2013 CatholicNews

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