FEBRUARY 10, 2013, Vol 63, No 03

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

SINGAPORE 50 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$1.20 MCI (P) 023/01/2013 PPS 201/04/2013 (022940) VOL 63 NO. 3SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2013

HOMEBilingual ministry opens new centrePrepares for concert in April� Page 5

Laypeople take up theology coursesSupport group formed� Pages 8-9

St Patrick’s School marks 80th anniversarySpecial Mass celebrated� Page 10

ASIARape case in IndiaChurch leaders speak up� Page 12

New nuncio for MalaysiaAmerican archbishop appointed� Page 13

WORLDInsurgency in MaliSituation has reached ‘tragic proportions’, say bishops� Page 14

INSIDE

A solemn Vespers cum Holy Hour to prepare for the episcopal ordination of Coadjutor Arch-bishop-elect William Goh will be held at the Church of the Risen Christ on Feb 17 at 7.30 pm.

The ordination Mass will be at the Singapore Expo (The Max Pavilion and Exhibition Hall 9) on Feb 22 at 7.30 pm. Tickets will be allocated to par-

ishes by mid-February. A high-tea reception will be

held on Feb 23, from 2-5 pm, at the Catholic Spirituality Centre, 1261 Upper Serangoon Road. All are welcome. Dress code for ordination and recep-tion: smart casual.

A thanksgiving Mass will be held at the cathedral on Feb 24 at 10 am. �

Episcopal ordination announcements

VATICAN CITY – In an effort �� professional sports arena, the Vatican has invited top-tier Christian athletes Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin to help bring ethical values back to a scan-dal-ridden world of sports.

�� Culture is planning to host an international conference on re-instilling values in sports later this year, inviting representa-tives from top world governing bodies like FIFA (the Interna-tional Federation of Associa-tion Football), the International Cycling Union and the Italian National Olympic Committee.

Msgr Melchor Sanchez de Toca Alameda, head of the council’s Culture and Sport section, told Catholic News Service recently that pro sports “have become a com-modity that is subordinate to the free market and, therefore, ��

Instead of sports being an ac-tivity that builds important values, respects human dignity and helps shape the whole human person, “it has reduced people to merchan-��

US cyclist Lance Armstrong’s admission to doping was just the tip of the iceberg, he said, since high-stakes commercial interests pressure almost every profession-al cyclist into the illegal practice. The world of cycling and soccer ��

“We want to work with the big sports bodies to give new value to ��-ence, titled We Believe in Sports, will be one way to get that initia-tive started, the monsignor said.

The council will also have Christian athletes in attendance, to give witness to how the worlds

of faith and sports can easily come together.

He said the council hoped its participant line-up would include �� !"�sports stars: NFL quarterback Tim Tebow of the New York Jets, and NBA basketball player Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets.

The goal of the conference is two-fold, Msgr Sanchez de Toca said.

First: “to help put healthy val-ues back into sport and counteract the current market logic, because if the current state of affairs con-��

Second: to help the Church see

sport as an important resource for future priests, Catholic schools, parishes and catechists.

The former-modern pentathlete-turned-priest said the council also wants to hold a Race of Faith, a 100-� #�� $��della Conciliazione street towards St Peter’s Square during the gathering.

“We want to see lots of cardi-�� %��

Pope Benedict XVI has also condemned doping in sports and called on athletes, coaches and team owners to strive for victory through ethical and legal practices.

“Pressure to achieve important results must never drive [people] to take shortcuts as happens in ��during an audience with Italian Olympic and Paralympic athletes in December. � CNS

Christian athletes to aid scandal-hit sports worldVatican invites Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin to conference on re-instilling values in sports

Basketball star Jeremy Lin (left) and quarterback Tim Tebow have been invited to show how faith and sports can come together.

2 Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews22 HOME

ARCHBISHOP’S DIARYFeb 10 10.00am Cathedral of the Good Shepherd:

Mass – Chinese New YearFeb 15 4.00pm SMU: Mass – FIDES-CommissioningFeb 16 2.00pm Church of St Mary of the Angels:

Mass – Rite of ElectionFeb 17 2.00pm Church of the Holy Trinity: Mass – Rite of Election

By Martin See

Four recently ordained deacons say they look forward to serving people and growing in holiness.

Alphonsus Dominic, Benedict Chng, Edward Seah and Jovita Ho were ordained deacons at St Joseph Church (Bukit Timah) on Jan 25.

The diaconate period marks a step closer towards priestly ordi-nation for them.

“Besides being of service to the archbishop as a deacon, it is also about being available to the people especially through preach-ing the Gospel, assisting at the liturgy and performing charity in the name of the Church,” Deacon Jovita Ho told CatholicNews.

Deacon Ho, 38, who is serving at the Church of the Holy Cross, said that after spending eight years in formation at the semi-nary, it is the grace of God that will continue to see him through his growth over the years.

Some 1,400 people packed the church for the ceremony, presided over by Archbishop Nicholas Chia.

Coadjutor Archbishop-elect William Goh and about 30 other priests were also present.

The ordination rite saw Arch-bisop Chia laying hands on the four, investing them with stole and dalmatic (an outer liturgical vestment) and presenting them

with the Book of Gospels.“My formation in the semi-

nary has certainly equipped me to serve the people,” Deacon Al-phonsus Dominic told Catholic-News. “However, formation is an

From left: Alphonsus Dominic, Benedict Chng, Edward Seah and Jovita Cyprian Ho at their diaconal ordination ceremony on Jan 25.

The four men prostrating themselves during the ceremony.

A step closer to priesthood

on-going life long process and I have to continue to grow.”

Deacon Dominic, 38, has been serving at the Church of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary since January.

Evangelisation is the “heart-beat” of a deacon, said Deacon Benedict Chng, 49, who is now serving in the Church of the Holy Spirit.

“All through the Mass, from

the introductory rite, Archbish-op Chia’s homily, the laying of hands, the investiture with stole and dalmatic, and the presentation ��&��%��'�� and reminded me of my calling to grow in holiness,” he said.

Deacon Edward Seah, 53, shared, “My four years in the seminary were positive learn-ing experiences; so was my time ministering as a Religious Brother prior to entering the seminary.”

The former La Salle Brother, who has been posted to St Anne’s Church, said, “I will work with the parish priest, who represents the archbishop in the parish, in meeting the needs of the parish and archdiocese.” �

[email protected]

A deacon’s work includes ‘preaching the Gospel, assisting

at the liturgy and performing charity

in the name of the Church’.

– Deacon Jovita Ho

3Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews ADVERTISEMENT

4 Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews HOME

Some also attended a Holy Hour, participated in Eucharistic adoration, or performed acts of ��

Archbishop Nicholas Chia, six priests and 200 prayer interces-sors attended the Jan 12 lunch at �� *!""� +�� /�� '�� <��

�=�� >�� -�� %�� >�� -

A total of 1,412 intercessors from Serra

Club of Singapore prayed for 145 priests

in the archdiocese.

Archbishop Nicholas Chia greeting participants at the Serra Club of Sin-gapore thanksgiving lunch.

By Darren Boon

��"�� ?��"�� %��@�� Masses for prayer intercessors �� >� ��KQZK��@��

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��>�� and offered up a Mass for the �� %��prayed one decade of the rosary �� \�@��^��>� �� >� stand the importance of prayer

�� @��_�� for our priests,” said Serra Club �� "�� `��

Serra Club thanks those who prayed for priests

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[email protected]

5Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews HOME

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we celebrate the Lunar New Year during this Year of Faith, I would like to express my best wishes to all Chinese Singapo-reans that this feast may bring about an increase of faith and love for you and your families.

Faith is an expression of believing in God, even when we do not always understand God’s will in our lives.

�� >� �@�� lives, we must rediscover a greater understanding of our Catholic faith. It is through a re-evangelisation of our own Catholic faith that we can reach out to our family members and to others in our society.

Faith never travels alone, it is always accompanied by hope and love. By focusing on strengthening our faith this

Chinese New Year and the year ahead, we will also increase our hope in attaining heavenly glo-ry, as well as sharing our love to those we most need it.

Let the red packets and gifts we give out at this happy time not only signify the sharing of temporal goods, but also the generous giving of our lives and talents in the service of others.

Let us also continue to offer together our fervent prayers for the Church in China, that Chi-nese Catholics may be steadfast witnesses of faith to the love that Jesus has shown us and to the Universal Church.

�̀��>�� and blessed Chinese New Year!

Yours in ChristArchbishop Nicholas Chia

By Darren Boon

A bilingual, family-oriented evan-gelisation ministry is holding a concert in April to reach out to Christians and non-Christians.

Clouds of Praise’s “Dream Concert” is scheduled to be held ��/��<�� {��?� ��<� �on April 6 at 8 pm.

Programme details are being � �� >� ��group’s pastoral director Bernard Lim. More information and tick-eting details will be made avail-able later.

�� >�� -ated to Blessed Sacrament Church ��?>��"��<��Fathers, plans to incorporate some pop elements into the concert. Not all songs will be religiously themed, but they will contain inspi-rational messages to help attendees experience Christ, said Mr Lim.

“Nowadays, people attend the concerts of their idols…but Jesus, for us, is our superstar,” he said.

Mr Lim lamented that some young Catholics are not active �� <��hopes that the concert could in-spire them to serve God.

George Wong, 17, who will be dancing at the concert, shared:

“I’m not really a professional dancer, if God wants to use me as �� <��@��way and it can work out.”

Dominic Lim, 16, who is also performing, said, “It gives a chance for me to use some of my talents in a way that can glorify God”.

New centre

Clouds of Praise has also set up a new activity centre in One Pem-impin, off Pemimpin Drive in the Marymount area.

�� >�

opened and blessed on Jan 13. The group’s existing centre, in

a shophouse in the Clarke Quay area, will be closed when the lease expires. Mr Lim said the reloca-tion was to make the centre more accessible to members.

It is used for catechism class-es, student study groups and prayer sessions on Saturdays. Faith formation classes are held on Sundays.

Adults meet in their cell groups on Wednesdays while the younger members meet on Fridays.

Clouds of praise presently comprises about 50 members, in-cluding families, with ages rang-��@��Q�

A youth camp last December saw about 20 participants learning basic songwriting skills to help them compose worship songs, said Mr Lim.

<�� >� ��

big part in Clouds of Praise as it enhances worship.

The group also plans to hold talks on family issues such as �� management. These will be open to Catholics and non-Catholics.

Bilingual ministry

Clouds of Praise was set up in 2000 to boost family life and rela-tionships, said Mr Lim.

The bilingual Chinese and English ministry aims to cater to the varied needs of young people and adults, he said.

Mr Lim explained that some-times spouses have different levels ��>�� So the use of both these languages, such as in praise and worship, would be helpful to such couples.

A translation service is avail-able at the group’s events, he said.

Many young people are also weak in Chinese, Mr Lim added. The use of Chinese helps them to improve their command of the language, he said.

For more information on Clouds of Praise, go to http://www.cloudsofpraise.org/ �

[email protected]

Clouds of Praise was set up in 2000 to boost family life and relationships.

A praise and

worship session at Cloud of Praise’s

new premises

in One Pemimpin.

Bilingual ministry opens new centre,prepares for concert

6 Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews6 HOMEARCHBISHOP’S LENTEN PASTORAL MESSAGE

Bartimaeus’ humble cry revealed his faith to all around him

– that he recognised Jesus as the Holy One.

Greetings dear brothers and sisters in ��

Reading the Gospel story of the blind man of Jericho (Mark 10:46-52) never fails to inspire my own faith in the Lord Jesus. For this Lent, especially appropriate to the Year of Faith that we are celebrating, I wish to contemplate with you this passage from scripture.

Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, had spent much of his life without sight. He had heard about Jesus of Nazareth and all the wonderful things Jesus had said and done – he knew that Jesus had a reputa-tion among the people as a healer.

Many modern people including Cath-olics know about Jesus but, like Barti-maeus, through various circumstances of life have not yet encountered Him person-ally. If we allow it, this Year of Faith can be that opportune time for each one of us to encounter the person of the Risen Lord.

When he heard that Jesus was nearby, Bartimaeus tried to call out to Him: “Son of David, have pity on me.” The title that Bartimaeus chose to address Jesus is sig-�� =�� #�� ‘Son of David’ which was reserved for the One who is awaited by the Jewish people – the Messiah of God.

Bartimaeus’ humble cry revealed his faith to all around him – that he recog-nised Jesus as the Holy One promised for the salvation of Israel.

The hope that God cares for us is etched into the human heart. Even if we

have fallen away from the Church, or be-cause of scandal grown distant from our Catholic past – this desire for God is still present within us.

I pray that you will never ignore this longing for God’s love, and allow it to move you. In turn, God will reciprocate by drawing near, like Jesus to Bartimaeus.

It is a fact that this desire can be sup-pressed by others. Just as Bartimaeus was scolded and ordered to remain quiet, �� >�� @��?�� stay silent about God. If Bartimaeus had obeyed the bystanders, he would have re-mained blind.

What about us? Sometimes our cul-

ture or the climate that we live in may discourage us from expressing our desire for God – but we have to imitate the blind beggar and call out to Jesus despite the obstacles in our way. We must not be con-tent to remain blind to God’s presence in our world.

We are told how Bartimaeus reacted when he heard Jesus summoning him: �� %�� #�� and went to Jesus” (v. 51).

If only we have the same eagerness when we are called to be close to God! What kind of risk are we willing to take as followers of Jesus? What is our own insecurity that needs to be cast off before

we can be free to approach Christ in our lives?

Even when face-to-face with God, we have to decide about our own destiny. God does not presume to choose on our behalf.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked Bartimaeus. I wonder what your answer will be when God poses the same question to you? Will your request come from the bottom of your heart, like the blind beggar?

I invite you during this Lenten sea-son to examine your life: have you lost something very important that you wish �� =�� ?�� #�>�� treasured relationship, a good attitude to life, or even faith itself.

Have the bold spirit of Bartimaeus and ask Jesus: “Master, let me see again.” I believe that the Lord’s life giving power – that restores light to our darkness – will not disappoint you.

�� @��#�>��&��-timaeus did, following the Master and �@�� @�� @�� '��through faith in Christ Jesus. That will be Good News indeed!

I extend my blessing to you and your families and loved ones. May you have a ? ��#�>��

Archbishop Nicholas Chia

7Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews ADVERTISEMENT

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Franciscan University of Steubenville. MA in Theology and Christian Ministry. http://www.franciscan.edu/Distance-Learning/GeneralRequirements/

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SOME THEOLOGY INSTITUTIONS

WHILE� �� -ures on the number of lay Singa-pore Catholics who have complet-ed a formal education in theology, there appears to be a growing in-�� @��>��

On Jan 7, 14 former and cur-rent theology students met to dis-cuss forming a network to support one another in the pursuit of the-ology studies as well to pool and share resources.

��@��who met at the Catholic Archdioc-esan Education Centre included current theology students at the Augustine Institute, Franciscan University of Steubenville; ex-students of the John Paul II Insti-tute for Marriage and Family in Melbourne, the Loyola School of Theology in Manila and Maryvale Institute in Birmingham, as well as those had completed the Singa-pore Pastoral Institute’s Diploma in Adult Faith Formation.

They discussed promoting the study of theology among Catho-lics and the possibility of group members providing services in terms of catechesis and teaching.

They also looked at the possi-bility of developing Singapore as a centre for Catholic studies in the future.

^� /�� ^��of Theology student at the Fran-ciscan University of Steubenville told CatholicNews that having a network of like-minded people for support would provide her the courage to persevere with the course as it is not easy.

The group also hopes to recruit more members for its network and welcomes all current and former theology students as well as those interested in theology.

Several prominent Church people believe there has been a growing interest in theology stud-ies over the years.

Singapore Pastoral Institute (SPI) director Arthur Goh told CatholicNews that he has no “hard numbers” and only comes to know about theology students through referrals by friends or calls to SPI requesting placement.

“Although we have always had people like that, I intuit that there are more now compared to a decade ago. The Spirit is at work,” Mr Goh said.

“As our Catholic population is generally well educated, there is now a desire for a more formal

education in theology,” Francis-can Friar John-Paul Tan, parish priest of Church of St Mary of the Angels told CatholicNews.

“They would be looking for a systematic study that would also recognise the time and efforts that they have invested. Basically a degree to show for it.” He added that this apparent trend signalled that Catholics are expecting more of the priests and Religious to ad-dress their “intellectual questions” that pertain to the faith.

However, just like Mr Goh, Friar Tan said he could not give �� ?�� been no central deposit of names or courses for studies in theology,

I can only speak from anecdotal accounts”. He listed the names of some people he knows who have expressed their interest in study-ing theology or are doing distance learning courses at a higher educa-tion level.

Friar Tan credits such interest to SPI and the courses it offers.

“As people become more fa-miliar with biblical and theological themes, the next logical step for many of them is to pursue a formal education in theology,” he said. “This personal interest also falls in line with an educated and well informed post-Vatican II Church.”

Mr Goh said that SPI has been running a two-year long Diploma

in Adult Faith Formation (DAFF) course since 1999 with an average of 30 students per run.

He acknowledged that the de-mands made on students may not be the same as that of a Catholic university programme.

“What we ask for now in DAFF is about as far as most who sign up are willing to go,” Mr Goh said.

However, he believes that more laypeople now are willing to pay for higher studies in theol-ogy “with the hope of serving the Church professionally”.

Mr Goh said the setting up of a network for past and current theology students signals an op-portunity to “properly place these trained laypeople for the growth of the Church in Singapore”.

“If God is giving us these human �� on the way we steward the Church if we ignore them,” Mr Goh said.

For more information on the students’ network, email [email protected] �

[email protected]

Laypeople take up More and more laypeople are apparently taking up such courses

A group of former and current theology students met on Jan 7 to discuss setting up a network among themselves for fellowship and to pool resources.

‘As our Catholic population is generally well

educated, there is now a desire for a more

formal education in theology.’

– Fr John-Paul Tan

8 Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews

HOME

theology coursesI.online and overseas. Darren Boon looks at this phenomenon........

Ms Jane Tan

Ms Jane Tan, who has been study-ing at Taipei’s Fu Jen Catholic Uni-versity Faculty of Theology of St Robert Bellarmine since 2011, says she wanted to look at her “Catholic faith more from the rational per-spective, compared to simply be-lieving what was taught”.

Ms Tan who had worked with Hai Sing Pao, the local Chinese Catholic paper, as well as served in the Commission for Apostolate of Mandarin-speaking, added: “I would like to know more about the God whom I feel intimately related to, also to have a more ho-listic understanding of the Catho-lic faith in this world.”

She chose to do her studies on campus fulltime so as to “fully immerse in the environment of theological studies”. She is now in her second year of studies.

Fortunately for her, lectures are in the morning so she can spend more time to study later in the day. “Time management for �� @��-ety of subjects and avoiding being over-academic are quite a chal-lenge,” she said. �

Several inspirations he received while on a pilgrimage and retreat convinced Mr Simon John Long-man to take up a theology degree course.

The former NParks director went on a pilgrimage to Italy in 2010 where he had several expe-riences of God at the Basilica of St Dominic in Bologna and at the Basilica of St Catherine in Siena.

This was further reinforced at a contemplative retreat in Chung Chiau Island off Hong Kong.

He then decided to gain more knowledge of his Catholic faith through a Dominican Education Institute so as to better teach the faith to others.

Mr Longman enrolled in The Priory Institute in Dublin, Ire-lamd, taking up a four-year theol-ogy degree course with honours programme, which costs 1,800 euros (S$2,990) a year.

The lessons are done online. <��@�� >��\�? ��twice a year at the beginning of each semester to meet his tutors. His lessons began in early Octo-ber 2012.

Mr Longman, 56, who is mar-ried with children, chose this op-

tion as it allowed him to be able to be with his family in Singapore and to study for a course run by Dominicans.

He says he is able to pursue his ��>��-cial strain on his family.

Mr Longman has journeyed in the RCIA ministry for 12 years as a sponsor and regular prayer leader.

<��@��-treats and prayer meetings, and is a communion minister at Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Vir-gin Mary. �

Mr Simon John Longman

Pilgrimage inspires ex-director to pursue Dominican course After realising that there is only

a handful of people serving the Catholic Mandarin-speaking community in Singapore, Ms Tan Lilian said she felt a call to serve the community, especially in the area of RCIA.

“One year into service, I re-alised I have to deepen my faith knowledge and spirituality and made a choice to give up my ca-reer and paper chase for theology studies in Mandarin,” Ms Tan said in an email interview with Cathol-icNews.

Ms Tan, who was baptised af-ter attending the RCIA in Manda-rin, went to Fu Jen Catholic Uni-versity in Taipei, Taiwan, to study theology from 1996 to 1999.

But the course was not without �� "��>��-�� ^�� >�?��language. Seeing a “monthly de-clining bank account and no clear future”, was also a daunting expe-rience, she said.

She spent about S$20,000 year. Ms Tan said the experience

has helped her to grow spiritually and gain a better understanding of the Bible and the Church’s teach-ings.

She added that the course has

Called to serve Mandarin-speaking Catholics through RCIA

Ms Tan Lilian

helped her to facilitate, teach and provide formation in the various parishes’ RCIA programmes. �

It was out of a desire to know more about his faith and to trans-mit it more effectively to his chil-dren that made corporate lawyer Simon Cheong take up a distance learning course in theology.

The father of three is currently enrolled in Franciscan University of Steubenville’s MA in Theology and Christian Ministry.

Mr Cheong, 41, said that al-though he had grown spiritually closer to God after experiencing some “challenges” in life, he still felt “ignorant” about his faith.

“I decided that rather than stay ignorant, I would go and do a for-mal study of theology to increase my faith and to be able to impart the faith to my children, and if the Lord calls me to, to spend my time to share the faith with others,” he said.

The motivation is mostly per-sonal, Mr Cheong said.

He expects to spend about US$12,600 (S$16,000) to com-plete the course, excluding the cost of textbooks. He would also need to travel to Steubenville.

Mr Cheong admits it is a chal-lenge to balance work, studies and family, especially when he has a

child who is less than a year old. However, as God and his fami-

ly are his priorities, he would only get down to studies after family and prayer time, he says.

He devotes an hour or so to his studies on weekdays and more during weekends.

“You have to tell yourself to set ��>�and to stick to it,” he said.

At this point of time, Mr Cheong says he has no plans to work full-time for the Church though he does not rule out offering his expertise on a part time or full time basis in the future. �

Studying theology was the “next natural step” in his spiritual for-mation, says Mr Alfred Pang, a Catholic educator who was also involved with the Charismatic re-newal at the Church of the Holy Trinity.

“It was something I had to do,” said the 36-year-old former Catholic Junior College teacher.

Mr Pang, who is single, is in the second year of a two-year-long Masters of Arts in Religious Education programme at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College, United States.

The course has a special focus on Catholic school leadership.

Mr Pang told CatholicNews through email that he is blessed �� family.

He chose the course as he fore-sees “a future need for more lay persons to be theologically trained so as to help nurture a distinctive but inclusive Catholic ethos”.

This is because there are now fewer Religious involved in the leadership of Catholic schools, he said.

^�� >� �� overseas student experience re-warding. He has interacted with people of different cultures and

learnt how Christians live their faith in different settings.

He has also participated in ecumenical work through his ser-vice as a youth minister to Korean Americans in a United Methodist Congregation and to undergradu-ates in his university’s Episcopal chaplaincy.

“Such opportunities would not have come by if I had chosen to study theology through distance learning,” he said.

Mr Pang says he would “al-ways be a teacher at heart” and sees himself contributing towards Catholic education in the future. �

Mr Simon Cheong

Lawyer takes up course to deepen faith in spite of busy life

Mr Alfred Pang

Responding to the need for theologically trained laypersons

Hopes to gain holistic understanding of faith

9Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews

10 Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNewsHOME

By Martin See

There have been mixed reactions among Filipino domestic workers to an announcement by the Philip-pine Embassy about changes to its work schedule.

In an announcement to parish-es, the embassy said it will cease its Sunday operations and revert to a Monday-to-Friday work schedule from March 17. Parish-es were asked to disseminate this information to Filipinos.

Domestic workers Ellen Ele-canal and Emelia Eglarinda said the change would not affect them as their employers would allow them to take a week day off to process their passports and seek other consular services.

However, others like Ms An-gela Barotia feel differently. “It’s not good because Sunday is the only day available for most do-mestic workers, and I can’t go freely on other days,” she said.

“Even with the embassy’s new online appointment services to cut down on the long queue times, not all domestic workers have access to the Internet,” she added.

According to the embassy, con-sular services have been revised to �� ?��%��The embassy has also instituted online appointment systems for ser-

vices like the issuance of passports ��@�� >��-cates.

The embassy said that with the start of the Singapore government’s policy of giving a weekly day-off for domestic workers this year, the em-bassy will focus its weekend opera-tions on empowerment programmes and skills training along with its cur-rent social and cultural events.

“Based on our observation since 2004 when we began opera-tions on Sunday, most domestic workers don’t use our services on ��>��^�� @��\� ��embassy’s Third Secretary and Vice Consul told CatholicNews.

“We set up online systems to speed up the process and cut down on waiting time, and we also free up Sundays to do more with our programmes to promote the wel-fare of Filipinos here,” he added.

Nevertheless, Ms Maria Luisa Tayco is unhappy about the change. “It’s a bad idea to close on Sundays because my employer will ask me to get an agency to do my paper-work which will cost me twice the amount of money,” she said.

Ms Alma Duron Panadero said the change means she would now have to seek special permission from her employer to use the em-bassy’s services.

Fr John-Paul Tan, parish priest of the Church of St Mary of the Angels told CatholicNews, “I feel that there still needs to be consular services on Sundays on top of the programmes and training the em-bassy is offering because not all employers will give their domes-tic workers time off on weekdays on top of their Sunday leave.” �

[email protected]

Filipino workers relaxing at Orchard Road on their day off. The Philippine Embassy says it will cease its Sunday operations from March 17.

Mixed reactions to Philippine embassy’s change in work schedule

“Eighty years is an achievement for which we can proudly give praise and thanks to the Lord,” said Archbishop Nicholas Chia during a special Mass to mark the 80th anniversary of St Patrick’s School.

“From the land on which the school stands now, bought in 1898, and later when St Patrick’s "�� %� �� on 16 January 1933, thousands of students and teachers have walked the corridors.”

Archbishop Chia made these comments in his homily at the Mass, held in the secondary school’s chapel, on Jan 23.

About 200 people including old boys, La Salle Brothers, pre-sent and former teachers and prin-cipals attended the event.

Archbishop Chia, who cele-brated the Mass with four priests, noted that the school’s history in-cluded the “painful years” of the Japanese Occupation when the school was requisitioned by the British and Australian Forces. The Japanese Air Force Headquarters was later stationed there.

“In spite of those memories, we can thank God for the many teachers who have guided so many students in the right path and to take their place in society imbued with the Lasallian and Pa-trician values,” he said.

“What we fondly remember

[of our school years] are the re-lationships and we treasure those relationships because they remind us of our ‘growing up’ years,” he said.

At the end of the Mass, Arch-bishop Nicholas Chia presented

principal Adolphus Tan with �� &��XVI’s apostolic blessing for Mr Tan, teachers and students of the school.

The event also saw former principal Lucas Lak encourag-

ing those present to support the restoration works for the chapel, built in 1932. These include air-conditioning the chapel, replacing pews and kneelers, and repairing the sacristy’s leaky roof.

The school, located on East Coast Road, counts many promi-nent alumni including Singapore President Tony Tan.

Other milestones in the school’s history include the setting up of St Stephen’s School in the 1950s to house the primary pupils.

In the 1980s, former principal Br Joseph McNally started the La Salle College of the Arts on the school premises before it moved out.

The school will host its 80th anniversary dinner on July 19. President Tony Tan will be guest-of-honour. To purchase tickets, email [email protected]. To contribute to the chapel resto-ration, contact Br Nicholas Seet (9686-4627) or Vivien Theseira (9450-3996). �

St Pat’s marks 80th anniversary

‘What we fondly remember are the relationships and we treasure

those relationships because they remind us of our ‘growing up’ years.

– Archbishop Nicholas Chia speaking at the school’s 80th anniversary Mass

��

�� !��-cate of the pope’s blessing as La Salle Br David Hawkes looks on.

11Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews HOME

By Darren Boon

A sharing by a HIV-positive wom-an and a call to Christians of dif-ferent denominations to love one another were highlights of servic-es held during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Christians need to “have a lot more love” for one another just as Christ loves all, Fr Anthony Hutjes, parish priest of Blessed Sacrament Church, told partici-pants at the International Ecumen-ical Service held on Jan 18.

He urged real kindness be-tween denominations as this “gen-erates kindness and will always be the best way to make at least a beginning in the restoration of our broken unity”.

Fr Hutjes was one of several Christian representatives who took part in the service held in his church. Representatives from the Lutheran and Methodist Churches as well as the Salvation Army also attended the service, one of two held to mark the special week.

Fr Hutjes called on Christians to relate to one another “with more honesty, with a more genu-ine attempt to understand and ap-preciate one another ... and with a greater willingness to acknowl-edge our own weak points and the good points of the other party”.

He however cautioned against �� and indifference. Not all disagree-ments, especially deep-seated ones, can be overcome by a “su-�� which some people nowadays seem to prefer as the solution for every clash of opinion”, he said.

The Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary priest said he believes that “ecumenical longing for reun-ion must also be accompanied by an equal appreciation for the best traditions” of one’s own Church.

He urged Christians to keep their eyes “focused” on Christ

to realise genuine ecumenism. The second service, titled An

Ecumenical Service in the Wes-leyan Tradition, was held at the Barker Road Methodist Church (BRMC) on Jan 24.

According to BRMC pastor, Rev Malcolm Tan, the hymns sung that evening were written by Charles Wesley, one of the leaders of the Methodist movement.

The event saw sharings from two volunteers from BRMC’s Positive People Ministry which works with HIV sufferers.

One of the volunteers, a HIV-positive woman, shared how she became a Christian after she was diagnosed with the condition, how she was blessed by God and how

she came to serve in the ministry. Methodist Bishop Dr Wee

Boon Hup spoke on the Christian Unity Week’s theme of “What Does God Require of Us?” taken from the Book of Micah.

Bishop Dr Wee said the proph-et Micah told the faithful that God requires them “to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God”.

To love mercy is “do the right things in the right way”, the bish-op said. To love mercy is to be ��@�� with love” that translates into kindness towards fellow humans and desiring the best for the other person, he said.

To walk humbly with God en-

tails doing the “right thing in the right way by following the right person” such as Jesus Christ, Bishop Dr Wee said.

Mr Keith Yeo, from Barker Road Methodist Church, who at-tended the Jan 18 service, told CatholicNews he was interested

in learning about other Christian denominations and their leaders.

The college student suggested that an ecumenical conference could be held in future to allow Christian denominations to share their own traditions so as to appre-ciate one another better.

Mr Yeo said it was interesting to see a female Methodist pastor standing in the pulpit of a Catholic church during the service.

In both services, participants of-fered praise and thanksgiving and confessed their sin of disunity. �

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Fr Anthony Hutjes urged Christians to have a ‘greater willingness to acknowledge our own weak

points and the good points of the other party’.

Kindness helps heal disunity, priest says at ecumenical event

12 Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews ASIA

THRISSUR, INDIA – In the wake of the na-tional outcry over the gang rape and death of a paramedical student and reports of rapes from across the country, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has called for “comprehensive laws and effective meas-ures to ensure the security and safety of women”.

“Instances of sexual violence against women and children have increased [at] an alarming rate, the most shockingly being the sexual gang rape and murder of a young medical student in the capital city of Delhi,” the bishops said in a statement on Jan 23.

“This dastardly act of violence had evoked unprecedented protest ... cutting across all barriers,” they said.

The 23-year old medical student died on Dec 29 in a Singapore hospital to which she was airlifted when her condition worsened. She was gang raped and tortured on Dec 16 ?>��@��#�@�� @��?��

The young woman and her boyfriend had boarded the bus after its staff offered them a lift at a bus stop. The gang rape led

to massive protests in New Delhi and other cities.

“This is not an isolated incident. Hun-dreds of rape cases are being reported every day across the nation ... this is indeed a very alarming situation,” said the bishops.

“This [increasing sexual violence] shows that [the] essence of humanity has eroded badly in our country,” Bishop Al-bert D’Souza of Agra, secretary-general of the bishops’ conference, told Catholic News Service on Jan 24.

“Social norms are being eroded under the commercialisation of media that is pro-#�� >�� &��D’Souza said.

While welcoming the strong and strin-gent measures the government has initiated to curb the violence against women and children, the bishops cautioned that “this awakening should not be momentary”.

��#�� ?>��federal government to reform rape laws em-phasised the role of value education through family, school and religions. � CNS

VATICAN CITY – Diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Vietnam were strengthened further when Pope Benedict XVI met Mr Nguyen Phu Trong, marking ��-eral secretary of the nation’s Communist Party.

Mr Trong, who has been general secre-tary of the party’s central committee party since 2011, was accompanied by an 11-per-son delegation of other high-level party ��@�� $��one of a number of stops the delegation had planned in Europe.

The pope and Mr Trong met on Jan 22 and held closed-door talks for half an hour.

�� >� �� the pomp and circumstance of a typical head-of-state visit, Jesuit Fr Federico Lom-?��$�� %�� #�� after the meeting.

The two also exchanged gifts; Mr Trong presented the pope an engraved tray with mother of pearl inlay, and the pope gave

him a picture of the Casina Pio IV villa in the Vatican Gardens.

The general secretary and his delega-tion then met with Cardinal Tarcisio Ber-tone, Vatican secretary of state, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Vatican secretary �� from the Secretariat of State.

Discussions were “cordial”, “very se-rene and very constructive”, Fr Lombardi said.

The Church and religious activity face strict controls in Vietnam, though some parts of the country have seen a gradual easing of restrictions on Catholic practices.

The two sides expressed hopes that “some pending situations could be resolved soon” and that the “current fruitful collab-oration” may be strengthened, the Vatican said in a written statement.

The Holy See and Vietnam have launched a process aimed at full diplomatic relations; there is a non-resident papal rep-resentative to the country, and the two sides are engaged in ongoing talks. � CNS

By Don Gurugay

SINGAPORE – The ninth annual Catholic schools principals’ com-missioning was held at St Anne’s Church on Jan 26.

Five newly appointed princi-pals were commissioned follow-ing a pledge of commitment un-dertaken by all the principals of Catholic schools present.

The event was organised by the Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools (ACCS).

The commissioned principals were Ms Debra Saw, CHIJ Our Lady of the Nativity; Ms Susie Ho, CHIJ St Joseph’s Convent; Mr Timothy Goh, St Joseph’s Institution Junior; Mr Stephen Chin, St Gabriel’s Secondary and Mrs Karen Tay, CHIJ Secondary Toa Payoh.

In his address to the princi-pals during the Mass, Archbish-op Nicholas Chia said, “Your leadership of these institutions is extremely important to us. I would like you to know that >��@��>��the Church’s outreach and mis-sion.”

ACCS executive director Wendy Louis told CatholicNews, “The archbishop commissions all newly appointed principals to our schools and pre-schools to indi-cate that they are at the frontline of the Church’s mission and they carry a very heavy load in their role, leading a Catholic school, and need our prayers and encour-agement.”

Below is some information on the new principals:

Ms Debra Saw, CHIJ Our Lady of the Nativity: The for-mer Infant Jesus student in Ma-

laysia started her career as a #�� Principles of Accounting. She �� the Ministry of Education, Pas-toral Care and Career Guidance &��?��@��>��

She was seconded to the Min-istry of Foreign Affairs and spent four years in the Singapore High Commission, London, as a stu-dent advisor.

This is her third school as

principal. She has about 30 years of experience in the education service.

Ms Susie Ho, CHIJ St Jo-seph’s Convent: She was teach-ing History and English Lan-guage for 12 years before serving a two year stint as vice-principal of Victoria School.

After completing her Leaders-In-Education Pro-gramme, she was posted to head Balestier Hill Second-

Indian bishops call for new laws to ensure safety of women

Vietnam’s Communist Party head meets Pope Benedict

New principals commissioned during a special ceremony (from left): Mr Stephen Chin (St Gabriel’s Secondary), Mr Timothy Goh (St Joseph’s Institution Jr), Ms Susie Ho (CHIJ St Joseph’s Convent), Mrs Karen Tay (CHIJ Secondary Toa Payoh) and Ms Debra Saw (CHIJ Our Lady of the Nativity).

5 new principals commissioned

ary School where she had the opportunity to reach out to stu-dents with special needs such as dyslexia, autism and hearing im-pairment.

Ms Ho shared that serving in an all-girls mission school is a refreshing change for her and added that with God’s grace, she looks forward to nurturing the girls from diverse backgrounds by maximising their potential and building character.

Mr Stephen Chin, St Gabri-el’s Secondary: He was educated in St Stephen’s and St Patrick’s schools and later decided to take up teaching. He returned to St Patrick’s School as a teacher and taught there for seven years be-fore being posted as vice-prin-�� /�� (2003-2005) and principal of Ah-mad Ibrahim Secondary (2006-2012).

He shared that returning to serve in St Gabriel’s Secondary after 10 years away from a Cath-olic school was a sweet home-coming for him and added that his mission of learning to grow �� ?�� he leads in serving others in this school.

Mr Timothy Goh, SJI Jun-ior: He says he hopes to strength-en the Catholic and Lasallian cul-ture of the school.

Mr Goh recalled that Br Nich-� ��"��#��St Patrick’s School as a teacher, which he did in 1998.

From 2007-2008, Mr Goh was attached to the Ministry of Education HQ School Appraisal Branch (Special Assistant) and from 2009-2012 served as vice-principal at St Anthony’s Primary School.

Mrs Karen Tay, CHIJ Sec-ondary (Toa Payoh): She was a past pupil of CHIJ Katong Prima-ry and Secondary and was Head of Department of St Margaret’s Secondary School (Pastoral Care).

Mrs Tay was previously the vice-principal of Anglican High School and successfully com-pleted the Leaders-in-Education Programme. She has a daughter in CHIJ Katong (Primary). �

13Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews ASIA

New nunciofor M’sia

��

Archbishop Joseph Marino

VATICAN CITY – American Arch-bishop Joseph Marino has been appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia and Timor Leste and Apostolic Delegate to Brunei.

The announcement was made on Jan 16. Archbishop Marino, who will be based in Ampang, +�� ?��-ostolic nuncio to serve Malaysia. It is not immediately known when he will start work.

He had told The Wall Street Journal, “There is no doubt that one of the main questions of our times is the promotion of inter-religious relations.”

Archbishop Marino was born in Birmingham, USA, in 1953 and ordained a priest in 1979 for the diocese. He entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See in 1988 �� -siastical Academy in Rome and ob-taining a diploma in Diplomatic Sci-ence and doctorate in Canon Law.

He served in the apostolic nun-ciature in Philippines, Uruguay and Nigeria; in the Vatican’s Sec-retariat of State, and as Counsel-lor in the Apostolic Nunciature in Great Britain. He was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Bangladesh in 2008. The archbishop speaks �� "��-ish. � BY VINCENT D’SILVA

By Vincent D’Silva

JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA – Co-adjutor Archbishop-elect William Goh of Singapore was a new face at a recent meeting of bishops from the region.

The 91st Plenary Session of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Bru-nei saw Msgr Goh speaking on the topic of vocations in Singapore.

During the Jan 14-17 meeting, Msgr Marek Zalewski, Charge d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nun-ciature in Kuala Lumpur, an-nounced that Pope Benedict XVI has appointed American Arch-bishop Joseph Marino as Apostol-ic Nuncio to Malaysia and Timor Leste and as Apostolic Delegate to Brunei. (see other story)

Msgr Marek noted that Malay-��<� >�"�� >��-tablished diplomatic relations on July 27, 2011. However, friendly relations had existed before that.

During the meeting, the bish-ops discussed matters relating to liturgy, catechetics, social com-munications, justice and peace, seminaries and vocations.

The Alpha programme, which has become popular among Chris-tians and non-Christians, was also presented to participants for pos-sible adoption in dioceses.

Bishop Paul Tan of Melaka-�� %�� of Asian Bishops’ Conferences’ ��&�� >��? >� ��<��Chi Minh City, Vietnam, held from Dec 10-16.

He said that dialogue has to be a hallmark of all forms of ministry and service in Asia. Such dialogue is characterised by humble sensi-tivity to the hidden presence of

God in the struggles of the poor, in the riches of people’s cultures, in the varieties of religious tradi-tions, and in the depths of every human heart, he said.

He added that the meeting also noted the impact of unabated �?�� and shortsighted economic gains. �<��?��-cantly to global warming and cli-mate change, the impact of which affects the poor and the deprived more disastrously,” he said.

The Malaysia-Singapore-Bru-

nei bishops’ meeting saw Arch-bishop John Ha of Kuching taking over the presidency of the bish-ops’ conference for a two-year

term from Bishop Paul Tan.Archbishop Ha will hold this

position till Dec 31, 2014, subject to re-election. �

Participants at the 91st Plenary Session of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Front row from left: Archbishop Nicholas Chia (Singapore), Bishop Emeritus James Chan (Melaka-Johor), Msgr Marek Zalewski (Apostolic Nunciature of Malaysia), Archbishop John Ha (Kuching), Archbishop Murphy Pakiam (Kuala Lumpur), Bishop Paul Tan (Melaka-Johor) and Archbishop Emeritus John Lee (Kota Kinabalu). Back row: Rev (Dr) Michael Teng (priest-secretary), Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom (Sandakan), Archbishop John Wong (Kota Kinabalu), Bishop Cornelius Piong (Keningau), Bishop Cornelius Sim (Brunei), Bishop Sebastian Francis (Penang), Coadjutor Archbishop-elect William Goh (Singapore) and Bishop Joseph Hii (Sibu).

��

Bishops discuss regional issues at meeting

14 Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews WORLD

THOUSANDS RALLY AGAINST US ABORTION LAWS: Demonstrators make their way toward the Supreme Court building during the March for Life in Washington on Jan 25. Bitter cold and snow did not stop tens of thousands from marching against abortion for the 40th year since a Su-preme Court decision legalising abortion in the US. CNS photo

OXFORD, ENGLAND – Mali’s Catholic bishops praised efforts by their acting head of state to hold the country together and backed his appeal for a “general mobilisa-tion” against Islamist insurgents.

“The situation we are liv-ing through is very grave and has reached tragic proportions in recent days,” the bishops’ con-ference said in a Jan 24 letter to President Dioncounda Traore.

“Through you, as supreme head of our armies, we salute Mali’s armed and security forces in their common efforts to liberate our coun-try,” said the letter. “We are aware of the appeals you have made, and we endorse them, body and soul.”

The letter was published dur-ing the bishops’ Jan 21-25 plenary in the capital, Bamako. The meet-ing coincided with the recapture of rebel-held towns by French-backed Malian forces.

The bishops said the Catho-lic Church had highlighted the plight of displaced people since the start of the 2012 insurgency, during which ethnic Tuareg rebels seeking a separate state overran northern Mali alongside Islamist ��?� ��@�� %��

They added that they would seek a “mobilisation of the Chris-tian community” throughout Lent,

which begins on Feb 13, to help secure the country’s future.

“We continue to believe a new Mali will emerge from this harsh ordeal, reconciled with itself and its values,” the bishops told Presi-dent Traore, who was installed after a March 2012 military coup. “These are the values of faith, fear and respect of God, sincere fra-ternity between its different com-ponents, love of homeland and a ��

The 200,000-member Catholic Church has six dioceses and makes up around 1.3 percent of Mali’s population of 15.5 million, nine-tenths of whom are Muslim and concentrated in the south. France intervened on Jan 11 to prevent in-surgents from seizing more of the country after imposing strict Shariah law in northern towns and villages.

Malian troops, backed by French regulars, recaptured the central towns of Diabaly and Douentza, around 420 km north of Bamako, in late January, while French air strikes were reported on Jan 25 near rebel-held Gao.

However, human rights groups expressed concern after reports of ��?��-egs by victorious Malian soldiers, who are set to be joined by 5,000 ��?��states. � CNS

A boy stands near destroyed vehicles on Jan 24 in Diabaly, Mali, which was recently liberated by French and Malian forces from Islamic rebels. CNS photo

Mali’s bishops say situation has reached ‘tragic proportions’

ROME – Christians must work together to offer the faith they share to a world that seems to �� believe, Pope Benedict XVI told �� Protestant leaders.

“Unity is in itself a privileged means – almost a requirement – for proclaiming the faith in an increasingly credible way to those who do not yet know the Saviour or who, having received the proc-lamation of the Gospel, have al-most forgotten this precious gift,” Pope Benedict said on Jan 25.

Presiding over an evening prayer service at the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the pope said that, even as divided Christians continue their theological dialogues in the search for full unity, “It is neces-sary to pursue concrete collabora-tion among the disciples of Christ on behalf of the cause of transmit-ting the faith to the modern world.

“In today’s society, it seems that the Christian message has a diminishing impact on personal and community life, and this rep-resents a challenge for all Church-es and ecclesial communities,” Pope Benedict said in his homily at Rome’s Basilica of St Paul Out-side the Walls.

The key to meeting the chal-lenge, the pope said, is for Chris-tians to pray to God for the gift of unity and step up their efforts at “reconciliation, dialogue and mu-tual understanding”.

“Communion in the same faith

is the basis for ecumenism,” he said.

During the Year of Faith, which the pope established to encourage Catholics to study the basic tenets of their faith and strengthen their religious practice and witness, he said Christians should recognise and give thanks for their shared faith in God, in Jesus as Saviour and in the Holy Spirit, who sancti-�� @�� the Church.

Pope Benedict offered special greetings during the prayer service to members of the Joint Interna-tional Commission for Theologi-

cal Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox �� -�� -�� ">��Orthodox, Malankara Orthodox ">�� Churches.

The pope asked the Catholic and Oriental Orthodox leaders to convey to their faithful in the ^�� >��land, so important in God’s plan of salvation, may be led, through constructive dialogue and coop-eration, to a future of justice and lasting peace”. � CNS

Christian cooperation key to proclaiming the Gospel: pope

Pope Benedict XVI greets Christian leaders as he departs an ecumenical evening prayer service at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome on Jan 25. CNS photo

15Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews WORLD

VATICAN CITY – In a message for the 2013 World Day of the Sick, Pope Benedict XVI called on everyone to be a good Samaritan and concretely help those in need.

Thanking those who care for the sick and elderly, the pope un-derlined the Church’s fundamen-tal role in “lovingly and generous-ly accepting every human being, especially those who are weak and sick”.

The World Day of the Sick is celebrated annually on Feb 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Pope Benedict expressed his affection for all those “undergo-ing a time of trial due to illness and suffering”, and he prayed that they remember they are not alone, marginalised, forgotten or useless.

“You have been called by Christ and are His living and transparent image,” he said, quot-ing from a message delivered by the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council in 1965 titled To the Poor, the Sick and the Suffering.

The Gospel parable of the Good Samaritan is just one of many accounts that show how Jesus expected His disciples to behave towards others, especially those in need, the pope said.

Through prayer, people can ��'��{��

love in order to “live day by day with concrete concern, like that of the Good Samaritan, for those suffering in body and spirit who ask for our help, whether or not we know them and however poor they may be”, Pope Benedict wrote.

Those who are sick and suffer-ing also are called to help others, �� accepting one’s own suffering by looking to Christ, “who suffered

�� @��The Year of Faith is an occa-

sion for the Church to intensify its charitable services “so that each one of us can be a good Samaritan for others, for those close to us,” the pope said. � CNS

The full message is at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/sick/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20130102_world-day-of-the-sick-2013_en.html

Help those in need pope says in World Day of the Sick message

People in wheelchairs join a procession to St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Feb 11, 2010, for Mass marking World Day of the Sick and the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. ��


Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

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

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

MANAGING EDITOR: Father Johnson Fernandez: [email protected]

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

WHAT can God and nature have had in mind when they designed the ageing process? Why is it that just when our mental prowess, our human maturity, and our emotional freedom are at their peak, the body be-gins to fall apart?

Our faith, of course, because it opens us to a per-spective beyond our biological lives, sheds some light on these questions, though it doesn’t always give us a language within which to grasp more re-

��@� >��"��secular perspective can be helpful and that is the case here.

James Hillman, in a brilliant book on ageing entitled, The Force of Character and Lasting Life, takes up these questions. What did God and nature have in mind when designing the ageing process? He answers with a metaphor: The best wines have to be aged in cracked old barrels. The last years of our lives are meant to mellow the soul and most everything inside our biology conspires together to ensure that this happens. The soul must be properly aged before it leaves.

There’s intelligence inside of life, he asserts, that intends ageing just as it intends growth in youth. It’s a huge mistake to read the signs of ageing as indications of dying rather than as initiations into another way of life.

Each physical diminishment (from why we have to get up at night to go to the bathroom to why our skin sags and goes dry) is designed to mature the soul. And they do their work without our consent, re-lentlessly and ruthlessly.

The ageing process, he asserts, eventually turns us all into monks and that, indeed, is its plan, just as it once pumped all those excessive hormones into our bodies to drive us out of our homes at puberty. And God again is in on this conspiracy. Ageing isn’t always pleasant or easy; but there’s a rhyme and reason to the process.

�� ?�� >�� >� �� body and it rises to the fore: “We can imagine ageing as a transforma-tion in beauty as much as in biology,” writes Hillman. “The old are like images on display that transpose biological life into imagination and art. The old become strikingly memorable, ancestral representa-tions, characters in the play of civilisation, each a unique, irreplace-�? ��@� ��=�� >��%��@��>��?�� >��?��In Hillman’s words: “Earlier years must focus on getting things done, while later years consider what was done and how.” The former is a function of generativity, we are meant to give our lives away; the lat-ter is a function of dying, we are also meant to give our deaths away.

And the ageing process raises a second series of questions: What value do the elderly have once their productive years are over? Indeed the same question might be asked of anyone who cannot be useful and productive in a practical sense:

What is the value of someone living with Alzheimer’s? What is the value of people continuing to live on in palliative care when there is no chance of recovery or improvement and they have already slipped away from us mentally? What is the value of the life of a person who is so mentally or physically challenged that by normal standards he or she cannot contribute anything?

Again, Hillman’s insights are a valuable supplement to the per-spectives offered us through our faith. For Hillman, what ageing and disability bring into the world is character. Not just their own. They help give character to others. Thus, he writes: “Productivity is too narrow a measure of usefulness, disability too cramping a notion of �� >�?�� >��@� ��for her character. Like a stone at the bottom of a riverbed, she may do nothing but stay still and hold her ground, but the river has to take her �� ?��

“An older man by his sheer presence plays his part as a character in the drama of the family and neighbourhood. He has to be consid-ered, and patterns adjusted simply because he is there. His character brings particular qualities to every scene, adds intricacy and depth by representing the past and the dead. When all the elderly are removed ��@�� >�?��%��*��disruptive rocks. Less character too.”

Ageing and disability need to be regarded aesthetically. We are a culture that does everything it can to deny, delay and disguise ageing. We put our elders away into separate homes, away from mainstream life, tucked away – no disruptive rocks for us to deal with. We are also a culture that is beginning to talk more and more about euthanasia, ��@� �� >�?>�� >�� =��<� �� we are paying a high price for this: We have less character and less colour. �

The questions ageing raises

LETTER

LETTERS/OPINION

I agree with Joseph Chng (Loud Music At Communion, CN Jan 27).

Upon receiving Holy Com-munion, music should be muted or silent for us to savour the pres-ence of Jesus received in Holy Communion.

Communion and musicIn fact, all should stay silent to

appreciate what we receive. In the concluding rite it is recommended that sacred silence may be ob-served for a while. �

Roland Tan Khoon Choon"��QKQK CN Jan 27

By Bernard Pereira

Did it ever occur to you that if churches ever improved their acoustics, they would make mil-lions of their parishioners better Christians?

Isn’t it true that as part of the congregation, many a time, you �� >�� >��neck and straining your ears to �� >� ^��-nor was saying in the pulpit?

It all boils down to the echo effect one gets in a hall that has a high ceiling. That echo effect has the tendency to suffocate and dis-tort the clarity of speech.

It happens everywhere, in all churches with high ceilings. And it’s been going on for centuries, although I wonder if it has ever ?��? �� >��engineers sought to rectify the problem – if at all that’s possible.

=��"��-��?��"��{�� '��"��-�� "��{��$��-�� "�� ?�� are the highest. And grandest.

What makes it even worse is when the priest lowers his voice to a whisper, probably to give his story or parable a better effect. He may have thought that today’s technology would do a much bet-ter job than yesterday’s in carry-ing his voice to the back of the hall.

This is one reason, I guess, ��>��>�� "��-pore tend to lose their concentra-tion for a while and either day-

dream or fall asleep a-la Mr Bean, aka Rowan Atkinson, in his popu- ��$��

Fortunately, as a senior citizen, I have always been able to control my senses and not doze off. But I’m left frustrated and exasperated when I realise there’s no solution to the problem. And I am left high and dry, unable to catch what the priest is saying.

Unless, of course, I were to sit right in front of the hall. At a dis-tance where I can hear him even without a mike. But not everyone can do that. Most of us would have no choice but to sit in the middle or back of the hall. And learn to live with the problem?

More importantly, whenever this lapse occurs to you, don’t you get that feeling of being short-changed? Of missing a vital part of the epistle or gospel – not through your own fault? You’d feel so helpless – and hopeless. At least, that’s how I would feel.

Many a time, I’d make up for it by going home and reading about what I missed in the Bible. Or discussing it with friends.

Bernard Danker, a 46-year-old

sales and marketing Executive in Bukit Mertajam, Malaysia, also observes this acoustical problem when he attends Mass at the near-?>�"��{��

��?�-cause we usually sat at the back of the church hall,” says Mr Danker. “But if we sat closer to the front, the reception was not too bad.

“I believe it also boils down to how the priest articulates and delivers his sermon. But funnily enough, these days, we have good speakers whose voices are not a strain on the ears.”

The last word must surely be-long to Mr Reed Hall, the director �� Z~�QQQ�� %��<��!"��

“You can’t electronically treat an acoustical problem because of the construction of the building,” he says.

“You can only address the symptoms. It’s a whole lot less ex-pensive to address it at the outset �� #�� "�� >�taking care of your acoustical is-sues. The sound system that you are putting in today will be re-� �� @�� ZQ� >�� =�{�cheaper to get the acoustics done ��

"�� not necessarily the solution – to the problem. If your parish church was built without the acoustics in mind from the beginning, then only the sound engineers will know how to rectify it. But I’m still skeptical. �

Bernard Pereira is an ex-journalist.

The echo effect one gets in a hall

with a high ceiling has the tendency

to distort the clarity of speech.

COMMENTARY

Father, could you repeat, please?

17Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews

CITY DISTRICTCathedral of the Good Shepherd 7.00am, 1.15pm & 6.30pmSt Joseph’s Church (Victoria St) 6.30pm & 7.45pmChurch of Sts Peter & Paul 7.20am, 5.30pm & 7.30pm (M)Church of Our Lady of Lourdes 12.30pm& 7.00pm (English & Tamil)Church of the Sacred Heart 7.00am & 5.30pmChurch of St Teresa 12.30pm & 7.00pmChurch of St Alphonsus (Novena Church) 6.30am, 12.15pm & 7.00pmChurch of St Bernadette 6.30am & 7.00pmChurch of St Michael 6.30am & 8.00pm

EAST DISTRICTChurch of the Holy Family 6.15am & 7.30pmChurch of Our Lady Queen of Peace 6.30am, 6.30pm & 8.15pm (M)Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour 6.30am, 6.00pm & 8.00pm

Church of St Stephen 6.30am & 8.00pmChurch of the Holy Trinity 6.30am, 6.00pm & 8.00pmChurch of Divine Mercy 6.30am, 1.00pm & 7.30pm

NORTH DISTRICTSt Joseph Church (Bukit Timah) 6.30am, 6.30pm & 8.00pm

Church of St Anthony 6.30am & 8.00pmChurch of Our Lady Star of the Sea 6.45am, 6.30pm & 8.00pmChurch of the Holy Spirit 6.30am & 7.30pmChurch of the Risen Christ 6.30am, 6.00pm & 8.00pmChurch of Christ the King 6.30am, 1.00pm, 6.15pm & 8.00pm

SERANGOON DISTRICTChurch of the Nativity of the BVM 6.30am, 6.30pm & 8.00 pm Sunset Mass (Feb 12): 5.30pm (M) & 7.00pmChurch of the Immaculate Heart of Mary 6.15am, 6.15pm & 8.00pmChurch of St Francis Xavier 6.30am, 6.30pm & 8.00pmSt Anne’s Church 6.30am, 6.15pm & 8.00pmChurch of St Vincent De Paul 7.00am, 6.00 pm & 8.00pm

WEST DISTRICTChurch of St Ignatius 7.00am, 6.00pm & 7.30pmBlessed Sacrament Church 7.00am, 8.30am, 6.00pm & 8.00pmChurch of St Mary of the Angels 6.55am, 1.15pm, 6.30pm & 8.15pmChurch of St Francis of Assisi 6.30am, 7.00pm (M) & 8.15pmChurch of the Holy Cross 6.30am, 6.00pm, 7.30pm & 7.30pm (in Mandarin at St Michael Room) Note: M* Mandarin

MASSES AT YOUR WORKPLACE

SHENTON WAY: Singapore Conference Hall 12.30 pm and 1.20 pm (Tel: 9090-6032)

OUTRAM: SGH Medical Alumni Building Level 2, 12.15 pm (Tel: 9823-3971)

SUNTEC: Le Danz #03-045 Suntec City Mall (next to Eng Wah Cinema) 12.15 pm and 1.15 pm (Tel: 9366-5573)

RAFFLES: The 3rd Space, Basement China Square (next to Cold Storage) 11.15 am, 12.15 pm and 1.15 pm (Tel: 9622-1775)

ORCHARD: Grand Hyatt “The Brix” 12.40 pm and 1.20 pm. Tel (Tel: 9794-0963)

JURONG EAST: please refer to http://cps.org.sg/centres/ash_wednesday.php or call 9831-6307

FOCUS

By Benedict Tang

“I am a needy Catholic,” said Ms Janet Ang, managing director (MD) of IBM Singapore during a talk she gave at the Church of Sts Peter and Paul on Jan 10.

^�� %��in a series of sharings by Catho-lic business leaders, organised by the Catholic Business Network (CBN) .

In her talk, punctuated with humorous anecdotes, Ms Ang shared that she prays and depends on God for all her needs, and that this practice began when she was a convent girl at CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Career

Ms Ang joined IBM in 1982 as a systems analyst. In 2001, she be-�� "��MD. She later held another po-sition in an IBM unit in Beijing. However, another company took over the unit in 2005.

Ms Ang recounted that this was one of the lowest points of her life. However, she turned to God in prayer and found the strength to persevere in her job.

She then decided to stay with the new company in Beijing.

According to Ms Ang, prayer is a regular feature for her in the workplace, where she prays be-fore making important presenta-tions, sometimes even with non-Catholic Christians and especially with her secretary.

China experience

In China, where religion is seldom talked about, Ms Ang said she shared her faith with her Chinese colleagues when they showed in-terest.

Going to Sunday Mass then was an unusual experience. Cath-olic expatriates had to go to an embassy where Mass was con-ducted by a foreign priest, and they had to produce passports to enter.

Prayer is a regular feature for

Ms Janet Ang in her workplace, where she prays before making

important presentations.

IBM’s managing director talks about her life as a Catholic

One of her proudest achieve-�� classes and help co-ordinate �� in her expatriate community in China.

She returned to IBM in 2009 and in 2011 was reappointed MD of IBM Singapore.

Balancing work and family

During the question-and-answer session, Ms Ang was asked if she was able to achieve a balance be-tween work and family life.

She replied that people are amazed to learn that she is a mother of four.

The Church of St Francis Xa-vier parishioner shared that just like many young couples today, she had doubts as to whether she could raise a family and climb

the corporate ladder at the same time.

However, thanks to God, she was even promoted each time she became pregnant, she recounted.

She added that she felt hum-bled to be asked to serve the arch-diocese as the chairperson of the steering committee for the Agape Village charitable project.

Audience comments

Members of the audience said they were inspired by Ms Ang’s sharing.

Mr Jeremy Toh, 43, said he came away from the talk learn-ing how to prioritise and stay fo-cused.

“She kept her talk real by not just sharing the good times but the bad times,” said another member of the audience, Ms Dor-othy Chia.

Mr Vincent Tan, 43, a senior media consultant, noted that Ms Ang “takes pride in being a Cath-olic”.

“She is never afraid to pray or make the sign of the cross before meals in public. She reminds me that I need to take pride in my re-ligion,” he said.

Mr Harry Yohannan said he was impressed at the way Ms Ang used opportunities to talk about her faith when interviewed by the media. �

More information on Catholic Busi-ness Network can be found at http://www.cbn-singapore.com

Ms Janet Ang at a talk she gave on Jan 10. The event was organised by the Catholic Business Network.

18 Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNewsYEAR OF FAITH

POPE BENEDICT XVI made it a centrepiece of the Year of Faith. He even set up a new department in the Roman Curia dedicated to it.

But have you ever wondered what is “new” about the new evangelisation? The term was not coined by Pope Benedict. Blessed Pope John Paul II exclaimed in his encyclical Redemptoris Mis-sio (The Mission of the Redeem-er) that “the moment has come to commit all of the Church’s ener-gies to a new evangelisation.”

To evangelise means to pro-claim the good news of Jesus Christ. Of course, the Church has never ceased proclaiming the Gospel since the day of Pentecost. But in the face of various heresies, the emphasis of the Church and its councils over the years had come to fall more upon defending the faith than spreading it.

The new evangelisation refers to what Cardinal Avery Dulles ��@�� that began with the Second Vati-can Council and involves several things that are notably new:

The terminology. The First Vatican Council (1869-1870) spar-ingly, if at all, used the terms “Gos-pel”, “evangelise” or “evangelisa-tion”. The documents of the Second Vatican Council, by contrast, make frequent use of the terms.

The recipients. As a child, I never heard about “evangelisation” but I did hear a lot about “mis-sions” in far-off countries. Vatican II recognised that our own back-yard has become mission territory.

In the words of Pope Benedict, “an eclipse of God” has occurred in what used to be Christendom. A “practical atheism” has cast its dark shadow upon Western culture so much that if the Christian faith is not outright denied, it is dis-

missed as irrelevant to daily life. We now realise that relatives,

friends, co-workers and neigh-bours need to hear the message as much as those in lands far from us.

The doers. Before Vatican II, everyone donated money to help

the missionaries, mostly priests and Religious, to carry out the task of bringing the faith to others.

Vatican II told us that each one of us is called to evangelise. None is exempt because of the lack of a theology degree, because we are involved in other ministries or because it “just isn’t my person-ality”. In his encyclical on evan-gelisation (Evangelli Nuntiandi), �� $=� �� >� �� “put aside the excuses” that would stop us from evangelising.

The method. OK, we can all evangelise since we can all be silent witnesses, right? After all, there’s the saying: “Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary, use words,” attributed to St Francis. There is no evidence St Francis said this. He and his friars, however, fre-quently preached on street corners.

Witness of life, for sure, is pri-mary. People, said Pope Paul VI, listen more willingly to witnesses than to teachers. Our witness vali-dates our words. But people still need to understand the meaning of our witness. Vatican II and

the popes repeat it over and over again – we must share the good news with deeds and words.

The message. In the past, some thought the task was to con-vince others of Christianity. But the message is not about an ideol-ogy but a person – Jesus Christ – and what He did for us.

According to Pope Paul VI, if there is one Scripture verse that encapsulates the essential Gospel message, it is the very text that evangelicals are famous for post-ing on billboards: “For God so loved the world that He sent his only Son” (John 3:16).

The goal. The point of this new evangelisation is not just to get inactive Catholics back to Church or to increase baptisms. These are, of course, important. But they are just milestones on an exciting never-ending journey of discipleship and transformation.

The goal is conversion, said Pope John Paul II, which “means accepting, by a personal decision, the saving sovereignty of Christ and becoming His disciple”.

The good news for us is that we can do it. The Holy Spirit is the primary evangelist, and has already been given to each of us �� ?�� -tion. Yes, we all need to learn more about our faith. But we are equipped and ready right now. �

The writer is co-founder of Crossroads Initiatives, a US apostolate of Catholic re-newal and evangelisation.

What’s ‘new’ about the new evangelisation

The ‘new evangelisation’ is a key concept of the Year of Faith. Marcellino D’Ambrosio explains what it means

A prayer meeting in progress. The goal of the new evangelisation is conver-sion – accepting, by a personal decision, the saving sovereignty of Christ and becoming His disciple. ��

We now realise that relatives, friends, co-workers and

neighbours need to hear the Good News as much as those in

faraway lands.

19Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews YEAR OF FAITH

By Archbishop Roger Schweitz

The Second Vatican Council is-sued 16 documents but Pope John Paul II suggested that the key for understanding the council (1962-1965) might be the Dogmatic Con-stitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium (Light of the Nations).

Approved in 1964, the docu-ment considers the Church as both a mystery, with elements hidden from the human eye, and an insti-tution, with a visible structure.

It sets forth an understanding of the Church that has profoundly shaped beliefs and practices for �� Q� >�� <�� @��@� ��document.

Universal call to holiness. The council said that the purpose of the Church, and of all human life, is holiness.

This is the fundamental call of all Christians, and it will be lived out in various ways, depending on one’s state in life and personal gifts.

This emphasis on the call to holiness prompted a spiritual re-awakening among the laity.

Many renewal movements blossomed in the wake of the coun-cil. Lay Catholics began to study the Bible, explore various forms of prayer and seek spiritual guidance.

As the US bishops observed, “The laity’s hunger for God’s word is everywhere evident” (Called and Gifted, 1980).

The Church as the People of God. The council emphasised that we are saved not just as indi-viduals but as a community – the People of God. As a result, we

have seen a renewed understand-ing of the family as “domestic church”, the primary community in which the faith is nurtured.

Moreover, within many par-ishes, small faith communities have formed, along with support groups and a deliberate focus on welcoming a diversity of cultures and generations.

The role of the bishops. While the First Vatican Council (1869-1870) emphasised the pa-pacy, the Second Vatican Council emphasised the dignity and au-thority of the bishops.

was convened in October 2012.The permanent diaconate.

Two paragraphs in Lumen Gen-tium have had a huge impact, es-pecially in the US. They authorise the restoration of the diaconate as a permanent order of ministry.

That is, mature married men can be ordained as deacons to assist bishops and priests in their pastoral ministry, including �� ?��-tisms, weddings and funerals.

Many US dioceses have taken full advantage of this opportunity. The US leads the world in the number of permanent deacons; nearly 15,000 serve in active min-istry, and over 90 percent of them are married.

The lay vocation. Running through the entire document, and picked up by other council docu-ments, is the theme of lay partici-pation in the Church’s mission.

All the faithful, by virtue of their baptism, are called to proclaim Jesus to the world. The lay faithful live out this call by witnessing to Christ in the family, the workplace, and the civic community.

This is the “secular character” of the laity, which demands their active engagement with the world.

If the role of the laity was ne-glected in the past, Lumen Gen-tium restores it to its proper place, proclaiming, “And so, worship-ping everywhere by their holy actions, the laity consecrate the world itself to God.” � USCCB

Archbishop Schweitz is the former chairman of the US Bishops’ Liturgy Committee.

Viewing the Church as mystery

and institutionA look at the impact of the Vatican II document, Lumen Gentium, in this Year of Faith

Visitors walk in St Peter’s Square as the sun sets behind St Peter’s Basilica. Lumen Gentium sets forth an under-standing of the Church that has profoundly shaped beliefs and practices for the past 50 years. ��

Vatican II emphasised that we are saved not just as

��a community – the

��

The word “collegial” ex-pressed the council’s understand-ing of the role of the college of bishops in leading the Church. It declared that the bishops, always in union with the pope, “have su-preme and full authority over the universal Church” (#22).

Collegiality has had practical implications for Church govern-ance. For example, it has led to the establishment of the Synod of Bishops, through which the pope periodically consults with repre-sentatives of the world’s bishops.

The most recent synod, on the topic of the New Evangelisation,


21Sunday February 10, 2013 � CatholicNews WHAT’S ONEVENT 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

SATURDAYS FEB 23RCIY@ST MARY OF THE ANGELS3.30-6.45pm: For those aged 13-18. At Church of St Mary of the Angels. T: 9746 4548 (Jeannette); E: [email protected]

WEDNESDAYS FEB 27RCIA@CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY7.30-9.30pm: From mid-May, meetings will also be held on Sundays from 11am to 12.30pm. At Church of the Holy Family (6 Chapel Rd). Register T: 6344 0046, 9666 6542; E: rciaholyfam@gmail.��

ALPHA COURSEThe Alpha course is to help people have a basic understanding of the Christian faith.

THURSDAYS FEB 21 TO MAY 9 7.15-10pm. At Church of Blessed Sacrament (Damien Hall). Register T: 9239 5562; E: [email protected]

MONDAYS FEB 25 TO MAY 6 7.45-9.45pm: At Church of St Bernadette (12 Zion Rd). Register T: 9798 7788 (Richard), 8322 5356 (Andy); E: [email protected]

Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1076F L U T E L E I S P A W SR O M A N I L S A A V O WA B S O L U T I O N L I M A

A M A S H A L L E YO U T R A N B E M O A N S

S P R I G Y O N D E RE A G L E S T A R N E L YG L E E A C T I I E L I EA S S A C H E N O V E N A

A U R O R A R I V E RA C E R B I C D I A L E DD A N I E L L E N TO T T O E P I S C O P A T ER T E S G I F T R E R U ME Y R E E P E E Y A R N S

Crossword Puzzle 1077

22 Sunday in Lent25 First word of a

Latin trio26 Great quantity27 Crystal-lined rock29 Patron saint of

lawyers30 Spiritual principle

of human beings31 A contraction32 Views33 Compact by

pounding34 Culture medium35 El _____36 Biblical tooth

action?39 Papal order40 Not ordained43 Strange person

44 One of two epistles (abbr.)

46 Morality49 Delight50 Joseph was sold

into slavery here51 Black Panthers

co-founder52 One way to buy

stock53 OT historical

book54 Night author55 Remain56 Free from doubt57 Certain code59 Nick and Nora’s

pooch61 Brit. reference

book62 Animation frame

ACROSS1 The New

Jerusalem in Revelation was made of this

5 Site of Paul’s shipwreck

10 “So, could you not watch with me one ____?” (Mt 26:40)

14 Topping in a tub15 Online sales16 Sea World

performer17 Lyric poems18 Drive back19 Coll. course20 Dreadful21 Headwear23 “This is the

_____ that the Lord has made”

24 Compositions26 Thespians’ labor

org.28 Prayer petitioning

God to send the Holy Spirit

33 Latin-American dance

37 Leave hurriedly38 Not fer39 Covenant seal (Ex

24:7–8)41 Sand hill42 Archdiocese in

Nicaragua44 People St. Patrick

converted

45 Convert47 Norse goddess48 Doctor of the

Church53 Governor Bush,

convert to Catholicism

56 Satirist Mort58 “_____ job!”60 Potpourri62 Bureaucracy that

assists the Pope63 Barks64 Team65 Upright66 Plot of ground67 Be mindful of68 Contract69 Trillion (pref.)

DOWN1 _____works2 Any Beatles song,

now3 Ogles4 Prescribed

amounts5 Certain works~� ��{��7 Scandinavian8 Gifts for dad9 “…so death

spread to _____ men” (Rom 5:12)

10 Second of IHS11 Toward the mouth12 Calif. college13 Indelicate

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 01 11 21 31

41 51 61

71 81 91

02 12 22 32

42 52 2 72

82 92 03 13 23

33 43 53 63 73

83 93 04 14

24 34 44

5 64 4

74 84 94 05 15 25

35 45 55 65 75 85 95

06 16 26 36

46 56 66

76 86 96

moc.scilohtacrofsemagdrow.www

6

WEDNESDAYS FEB 6 TO APRIL 10HOME RETREAT – JOURNEY TOWARDS NEW LIFE7.30pm: A 10-week retreat over Lent-Easter season based on the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius. For those who want to learn how to pray for others, deepen their prayer life ��'�� >� �@��&>�� Sisters. At Church of Sts Peter and Paul. Register T: 6565 2895, 9181 7763, 9722 3148; E: [email protected].

FEB 7 ECUMENISM7.30pm: Deacon Sherman Kuek speaks on ecumenism – what the Church teaches about it, what it entails and how one can be involved in it. By Archdiocesan Council for Interreligious and Ecumenical Dialogue. At Church of Sts Peter and Paul. Register T: 6336 4815; E: [email protected]

FEB 9PERANAKAN MASS11pm: Chinese New Year Peranakan Mass. Nyonyas are invited to come in sarong kebaya and babas do come in baju lokcuan or batik shirt. At Church of the Holy Family (6 Chapel Road). E: [email protected]

FRIDAYS FEB 15 TO MARCH 22YEAR OF FAITH7.30-9.30pm: 6 sessions to help Catholics rediscover their faith and become joy-� ��'�� &>��At Church of St Bernadette AVA Room. Register by Feb 8. SMS: 8467 6161, 8467 6363; E: [email protected]

TUESDAYS FEB 19 TO APRIL 30THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHETS8-9.30pm: Lectures by Msgr Eugene Vaz. By Church of the Holy Family Biblical Apostolate Team. At Church of the Holy Family (Function Room Level 4). Register E: [email protected]

FEB 20HOLY HOUR FOR PRIEST VOCATIONS 7.30-9pm: Pray for more priestly vocations and for our priests. By Serra Club of Singapore. At Church of St Bernadette. (Adoration Room). Register T: [email protected]

FEB 23CATHOLIC SINGLES DINNER @HANS 5.30-9pm: A good opportunity for fellowship and friendship among single Catholics in Singapore. At Hans Café (Pickering St). By Catholic Singles. Register E: [email protected]; FB: http://www.facebook.com/CatholicSinglesSingapore

FEB 24 TO APR 7 MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSEFor couples intending to get married. ��@��?�� Quarter 2 course from Apr 28 to Jun 2. T: 9839 9840 (Ron/Grace); E: [email protected]; Register in parishes or W: http://www.catholic.org.sg/mpc

TUESDAYS FEB 26 TO MARCH 26FAITH & THE SACRAMENTS – RECONCILIATION & MARRIAGE 8-10pm: Fr Arro will speak on how one’s call to be Christian witnesses is supported by graces given through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Marriage. At Church of St Mary of the Angels (St Clare Hall). T: 6567 3866 (Denise); E: [email protected]

THURSDAYS FEB 28 TO APRIL 4 COMMON SENSE PARENTING WORKSHOP|�}Q��}Q��workshop developed by Boystown, USA, that has helped thousands of parents to walk the talk in raising responsible children. Parents will learn a practical approach to manage their children’s behaviours and guide them in the choices they make. By Morning Star Community Services. At 4 Lor Low Koon. Register T: 6315 8812; E: [email protected]

THURSDAYS FEB 28 TO APRIL 11 CATHOLIC FAITH EXPLORATION (CAFÉ)7.45-9.30pm: 6-part video series to help Catholics rediscover their faith and

?��#�>�� '�� At Church of Christ the King. Register: T: 9757 1383 (Jason), 9616 0258 (Matthew); E: [email protected]

FRIDAY MARCH 1 TO SUNDAY MARCH 3CHOICE WEEKENDFri (7.30pm)-Sun (6pm): Learn to cope with all the different expectations one has of life, family and friends and how to build successful relationships as a single young adult. For single adults 18-35 years old. By Choice Singapore. At 47 Jurong West St 42. T: 9880 3093 (Dawn), 9046 2297 (Albert). Register: E: www.choice.org.sg

FRIDAY MARCH 8 TO SUNDAY MARCH 10 BEGINNING EXPERIENCE WEEKENDFri (6pm)-Sun (4pm): For those divorced, separated, or who have experienced the death of a spouse. Work through one’s grief and put one’s past behind, to be �� Register T: 9647 9122 (Sue), 9828 5162 (Jean), 9661 8089 (Joseph); E: [email protected]

By Darren Boon

The Catholic Prayer Society (CPS) Suntec’s lunchtime Mass venue at The Rock Auditorium will be moved to other locations in the coming months.

Starting February, its Tuesday lunchtime Masses will be held �� \��_� �� Suntec City Mall, adjacent to The Rock Auditorium in Suntec Tow-er Three.

From March, Masses will be held at Shine Auditorium in Shaw Tower as an interim measure while CPS works towards secur-ing another venue in Suntec.

According to CPS, the chang-es were necessary as the Rock Auditorium would be moving out of Suntec City Mall at the end of January due to the ongoing reno-vations.

Le Danz would also be mov-ing out of its premises at the end of February due to the renova-tions.

The last CPS Mass at The Rock was scheduled for Jan 29.

According to Ms Cynthia Chia from CPS, “CPS Suntec in-tends to remain in the Suntec area as we do have a large community of Catholics there whom we can serve by bringing the Eucharistic

celebration to them and [organis-ing] other activities.”

She added that there is a pos-sibility for CPS to use one of the function rooms when the Suntec City Convention Centre renova-tions are completed.

“This is likely to happen to-wards the second half of the year,” she said. “We believe that '�� >��

Meanwhile, CPS Suntec’s Mass times remained unchanged: Tuesdays at 12.15pm and 1.15pm.

For more information and up-dates, visit http://www.cps.org.sg �

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CPS Suntec to change Mass venueNEWS

THRISSUR, INDIA – Church of-�� @�� "��Lanka have praised Oblate Fr Tissa Balasuriya, 88, a prominent theologian who died on Jan 17 in Colombo.

“Let us bury only the bones and the flesh of Fr Balasuriya, but let us keep his words and deeds,” said Bishop Norbert Andradi of Anuradhapura, sec-retary-general of the Sri Lankan bishops’ conference, at the Jan 19 funeral.

Fr Balasuriya incurred excom-munication in 1997 for statements about Mary, original sin, Christ’s redemptive role, revelation and papal authority in his book, Mary and Human Liberation, but the excommunication was revoked a year later.

Oblate Fr Rohan Silva, pro-vincial of Colombo, told Catho-lic News Service that the late priest “was a visionary educa-tionist”.

“One of the pioneers of con-�� >�� the outlook of many theologians,”

Fr Silva said. “Fr Tissa was able to highlight the dignity of the hu-man person when the society branded people according to their ethnicity and faith.”

Social activists along with politicians and Buddhist monks joined hundreds of Catholics at the funeral, he added.

Catholic human rights ac-tivist Ruki Fernando described Fr Balasuriya as “a gentle re-bel” who was never shy about taking strong stands on matters of justice, peace and globalisa-tion.

In 1971, the late priest set up the Oblate Centre for Religion and Society that was in the fore-front of the Church’s social action and advocacy for peace during Sri Lanka’s bloody years of ethnic ��

He also wrote two dozen books on social and economic concerns and contextual theol-ogy. � CNS

Fr Tissa Balasuriya

Controversial theologian called to the LordOBITUARY

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FEBRUARY 10, 2013, Vol 63, No 03