FABC Communication INFO

Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences – Office of Social Communication OSC 1916 CTM Bldg. Oroquieta Street Sta. Cruz, Manila 1003 Philippines Tel: (632) 7327170, 3138577 Fax: 7327171 Email: [email protected]

MALAYSIA: NEW CHRISTIAN GROUP PROMOTES HONG KONG: FIRST ‘INTERNATIONAL INTERFAITH DIALOGUE CONFERENCE ON E-EVANGELIZATION’ Newly-formed “Christians for Peace and Harmony Malaysia” “EV Online School for Evangelization” organized the first (CPHM) has planned activities for the next few months, International Conference on e-Evangelization (ICeE) June 26- beginning with dinner with Perkasa, the Malay rights group 29 at Catholic Diocese Centre along Caine Road. More than 80 which has accused Christians of proselytizing among Muslims priests, religious and lay came to the conference from more than and even called for the burning of Bibles. The group is also 7 countries including India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Philippines, collaborating with the government’s “Committee to Promote Thailand and Pakistan. Dozens of lay volunteers from Hong Understanding and Harmony among Religious Adherents” in Kong attended as well. The event was simulcast on Skype for organizing a peace walk to places of worship. CPHM is also participants in U.S. and Canada. EV Online School for working with Muslim scholar, Hashim Kamali who heads the Evangelization was founded by PIME Father John Giampietro Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS), organizing a more than a decade ago. roundtable discussion on human and religious values shared by Muslims and Christians. (UCANEWS) 100 YEARS OF ‘DAUGHTERS OF SAINT PAUL’ HONGKONG: CONCERT TO BENEFIT MYANMAR THAILAND: Over 150 MISSION, HONOR ST. COLUMBAN parishioners attended a special A concert titled The Journey was held at St John’s Anglican Mass on June 14 at St. Michael Church, Central, on June 11 in honor of the 1,400 anniversary Church in Saphanmai, Bangkok to of the death of St. Columban. A collection was also made to commemorate 100 years (1915- benefit two projects in Myitkyina, Kachin in Myanmar. The first 2015) of the founding of Daughters is Home of Hope, a hospice for people with HIV/AIDS. The of Saint Paul (FSP) congregation. second is a rural education program for children of internally Simple snacks were served and displaced people. The Columban Fathers and Lay Missionaries, Thai books distributed after the Columban Sisters and their Associates, the Irish Consulate in Mass. The FSP arrived in Thailand Hong Kong, St. Patrick’s Society (Hong Kong) and the Irish in 1994 upon the invitation of Udon Chamber of Commerce organized the event. (SE) Thani Bishop George Phimphisan, PHILIPPINES: UST MUSEUM WEBSITE DOWN AFTER then Chairman of the Media HACK Commission of the Thai Bishops’ The website of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Museum Conference, to help the said commission. Fr. James Alberione was hacked June 9, forcing a temporary shutdown, a school founded the group in Italy in 1915 for the promotion of official said. A group calling itself the “China 1937CN Team” communication means in spreading the Gospel. (CSCT) posted messages slamming what it called “the Vietnam- SINGAPORE: Archbishop William Goh was joined by Vicar Philippines joint action.” “South China Sea is China’s inherent General Msgr. Philip Heng, SJ, Franciscan Friar John-Paul Tan territory,” the hackers said. The website contains information and 14 other priests in a concelebrated Mass on June 13 at and images about what is said to be the oldest existing museum Church of St Bernadette to commemorate 100 years of the in the Philippines. Built in 1611, UST is the oldest university in Pauline Sisters. In his homily, the prelate thanked God because Asia. (CBCPNEWS) “the Daughters of St Paul, in fact the whole Pauline family, CHINA: SEMINAR TO IMPROVE CHURCH, SOCIETY were not simply missionary, they were visionary.” The late RELATIONS, MEDIA EVANGELIZATION Archbishop Gregory Yong welcomed the Sisters to Singapore For the first time, priests, religious and Catholics were able 21 years ago. Today, there are six sisters in Singapore. (CN) to discuss with academics and members of government agencies PHILIPPINES: The Daughters of St. Paul in the Philippines “Catholicism in Contemporary China” in a seminar held in joined the worldwide thanksgiving for 100 years of their Beijing May 27-28. The event covered topics like development foundation in a Eucharistic celebration presided by Most Rev. of the Catholic Church in China, pastoral and evangelization in Jose Palma, Archbishop of Cebu on June 14, 2015 at the Queen parishes, evangelization of mass media, seminary formation, of Apostles Sanctuary in Pasay. Archbishop Palma thanked the consecrated life, charitable works, pastoral care of migrants, and Daughters of St. Paul for their unique ministry which is very new basic ecclesial communities. Faith Institute for Cultural much relevant and needed in the Church especially today. He Studies, Institute of World Religion Studies of the Academy of encouraged them to continue using the media for evangelization Social Sciences in Beijing and the Institute of Ethnic and to help in the formation of pastoral workers in Development Study organized the two-day seminar. communications. The celebration was broadcast live nationwide (UCANEWS) by Radyo Veritas 846. (PAULINES.PH)

FABC-OSC Communication INFO July 2015 Vol. 30 No. 7 SINGAPORE: JESUIT WRITES SONG FOR 50TH PAKISTAN: TRANSLATING ISLAM’S SACRED INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY WORDS INTO ENGLISH BANNED Fr Mark Aloysius SJ from the Malaysia-Singapore Region of The government has banned translation of Islamic words and the Society of Jesus has written the “Mass for Freedom” for Arabic names into English. Local media report that on June 4 Singapore’s 50th anniversary of independence this year. Co- Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved a document that writing the song is singer-songwriter Corrine May. The mass prohibits translation of words like Allah (God), Masjid was celebrated at the Archdiocese’s Joy SG50 Thanksgiving (mosque), Sala't (prayer) and Rasool (the Prophet). Many Mass on July 4. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Muslim leaders have welcomed the move, but it has drawn who was educated in Catholic High School was guest-of-honor criticism from several activists. “There is a chance that this accompanied by his wife, Madam Ho Ching. Also present was policy can have a negative effect, especially on the lives of non- Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, an old boy of St Muslims,” said the director of the Centre for Legal Aid, Joseph’s Institution. (UCANEWS) Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS-UK). (ASIANEWS) PHILIPPINES: SHROUD OF TURIN REPLICA VISITS BANGLADESH: “COMMUNICATION” BISHOP NOW ILOILO HEADS CARITAS-BANGLADESH A life-size replica of the Shroud of Turin opened for public The Bishop-chairman for social communication, Msgr. Gervas viewing in St. Anne Parish in Molo, Iloilo City. Parish priest Fr. Rozario, is the newly elected president of “Caritas-Bangladesh” Espiridion R. Celis Jr. said the replica was imported from as well. In an interview, the prelate said the charity will always California, courtesy of the Shroud of Turin Research Project, focus on the values of the Gospel and Christian ethics in its with the help of an unnamed donor from Iloilo. “This is a way service to the needy, especially the poor. Caritas “works for for our parish to help prepare the faithful for the Extraordinary social justice and peaceful coexistence of people of different Jubilee of Mercy,” the priest explained. The Molo parish priest religions and cultures through inclusion and dialogue. The poor, stressed that the exhibition of the life-size replica of the Holy ethnic minorities and marginalized are its priorities.” Shroud, believed to be the burial cloth which was used to wrap (ASIANEWS) Jesus Christ’s remains, is a unique chance offered to devotees in MYANMAR: WRITER SENTENCED AFTER the Philippines. (CBCPNEWS) PROMOTING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PHILIPPINES: DANCE TALENT WINNER SAYS ‘GOD A court in central Myanmar on June 2 sentenced Htin Linn USED US’ Oo, a former opposition official to two years imprisonment for A member of “Asia’s Got Talent 2015” grand champion El insulting religion in a speech that urged tolerance among the Gamma Penumbra spoke at the 7th National Catholic country’s hardline Buddhists. Given at a literary event, Htin Charismatic Congress at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay Linn Oo’s speech criticized the use of Buddhism as a tool for City on June 7 thanking God for the inspiration that led his discrimination and extreme nationalism. Amid protests from group to winning the continent-wide talent competition. “God nationalist monks and affiliated groups, he was also stripped used us to give honor to our country,” the member said. from his post as information officer in Suu Kyi’s National (CBCPNEWS) League for Democracy. (UCANEWS) PHILIPPINES: PHILPOST RELEASES JARO SINGAPORE: ARCHDIOCESE WARNS PARENTS, ARCHDIOCESE COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS YOUTH OF ‘CHARLIE, CHARLIE’ Two special stamps were issued on May 27 to commemorate The archdiocese issued a warning in June to parents and 150 years of the Archdiocese of Jaro. The first design features young children about the growing popularity of “Charlie, the historic Jaro cathedral, also known as the Parish of Our Charlie,” a game that purports to invoke a Mexican demon. The Lady of Candles. The well-known image of Nuestra Señora de game has gone viral among young people in social media. The la Candelaria (Our Lady of the Candles) whose feast day is Church warning states: “Our advice is for parents to be mindful celebrated every Feb. 2 appears in the design of the second of what their children engage in, especially on the Internet, lest stamp. Established on May 27, 1865, Jaro is the fifth oldest they fall prey to activities that might put them in the way of diocese in the Philippines. (CBCPNEWS) forces that are beyond anyone’s control.” (CN) PAKISTAN: ‘LAUDATO SI’ COMING SOON IN URDU, WITH HELP OF MUSLIMS The Encyclical Laudato Sì, with which Pope Francis urged the world to act in a concrete way to combat climate change, will have a version in Urdu and translation work started this month. This was revealed by Fr. Liam O'Callaghan, of the Society of St. Columban for Foreign Missions. The priest, coordinator of Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) “Real relationships with others, with all the challenges they entail, now tend to be replaced by a type of internet said the project is in conjunction with the Theological Institute communication which enables us to choose or eliminate for the Laity (TIL) on behalf of the Bishop’s conference. The relationships at whim, thus giving rise to a new type of Church in Pakistan is also cooperating with some Muslim contrived emotion which has more to do with devices and groups for greater efficiency and awareness building. displays than with other people and with nature.” – Pope (ASIANEWS) Francis (Encyclical Letter Laudato Si, no. 47)

FABC-OSC Communication INFO July 2015 Vol. 30 No. 7