Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s spirit dwell in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are FEBRUARY 23, 2020 that temple. Do you not deceive yourselves. If you think TERHAD that you are wise in this age, you should PP 8460/11/2012(030939) ISSN: 1394-3294 become fools so that you may become wise. Vol. 27 No. 07 THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY 1 Cor. 3:16-18 Get your INSIDE eight-page Supplement Joint WCC-Vatican P14 on Beloved Amazonia meeting strengthens (Querida Amazonia) interreligious dialogue P18-20 in this issue. Young woman to lead P16 India’s Catholic Youth See also pg 10 & 11. Lent in Peninsular Rekoleksi P5 rethinking pastoral work BM8 Malaysia Majlis Pastoral Paroki KSFX Movement P21-22 Pastoral Recommendations for Ash Wednesday Ash to be sprinkled on crown UALA LUMPUR: Wednesday liturgy with the been issued by Archbishop Ash Wednesday, imposition of ashes on their Julian Leow Beng Kim, Presi- KFebruary 26 marks foreheads. dent of the Catholic Bishops’ the beginning of the season To reduce the risk of com- Conference of Malaysian. of Lent. munity transmission of the Catholics all over the COVID-19 virus, certain pas- l See below for the pastoral world will celebrate the Ash toral recommendations have letter sh Wednesday, which falls on will be imposed by the minister are called during Lent. The faith- A26 February 2020 this year, sprinkling dry ash on the crown ful who come to receive ashes marks the commencement of the of a person’s head (whilst saying should be assisted in perceiving holy season of Lent. As in previ- one of the formulas prescribed the implicit internal significance ous years, we anticipate thousands in the missal). The previous lo- of this act, which disposes them of Catholics flocking to our par- cal custom of drawing a cross on towards conversion and renewed (SFA Cheras facebook) ishes to attend Mass and receive the forehead of a person, with Easter commitment.” the traditional Imposition of Ash- moistened ash, is suspended. As we continue to pray for the es. C) No holy water should be add- current situation and prepare our- In view of the continuing risks ed to the ash before the sprin- selves for this holiest season of posed by the COVID-19 (Wuhan kling. our Church year, let us not forget Coronavirus) outbreak and to mit- Although Ash Wednesday is not to offer our prayers, sacrifices, igate the human-to-human trans- a day of obligation and the imposi- fasting and other penitential acts mission, especially through tactile tion of ashes is not mandatory, we for those who are most vulnerable, contact, the arch/bishops of the would like to retain this practice those who have suffered most dur- Catholic Bishops Conference of even under the weight of the cur- ing this crisis and those who con- Malaysia have agreed that the fol- rent crisis, provided that the above tinue to put themselves in danger’s lowing procedures for the Imposi- steps are taken to minimise the way to work for its alleviation. tion of Ashes are to be observed in risks of infection through tactile On behalf of the Archbishops all parishes and mass centres un- contact. No. 125 of the Directory and Bishops of the Conference, der our jurisdiction: for Popular Piety says: I would like to wish you a Holy A) Priests and other extraordi- “The act of putting on ashes Lent. nary ministers tasked with the symbolises fragility and mortality, imposition of ashes should thor- and the need to be redeemed by oughly wash and disinfect their the mercy of God. Far from being + Most Reverend Julian Leow (CNS photo/Paul Haring) hands prior to and immediately a merely external act, the Church Beng Kim, D.D. after the Imposition of Ashes; Priest/Minister takes a pinch of the blessed dry ash in between the fingers and has retained the use of ashes to President thumb and drops it onto the crown of the head of the recipient while saying these B) Following the long estab- symbolise that attitude of internal Catholic Bishops words: Repent, and believe in the Gospel or Remember that you are dust, and to lished custom in Rome, ashes penance to which all the baptised Conference of Malaysia dust you shall return. No marking of the cross on the forehead with ashes. Vatican, Chinese diplomats discuss deal on bishops’ appointments MUNICH, Germany: Archbishop which have developed positively The press office also said that closed saying that “a desire for Chinese Patriotic Catholic Asso- Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Re- over time,” according to a Holy “appreciation was expressed for greater international cooperation ciation (CPCA), a government- lations with States of the Holy See press office communique. the efforts being made to eradi- to end of promoting civil coexist- sanctioned organization. See, met with Wang Yi, the Chi- “In particular, there was high- cate the coronavirus epidemic as ence and peace in the world was The September 2018 agreement nese foreign minister, discussing lighted the importance of the well as solidarity with the affect- called for, and considerations on between the Holy See and Beijing their states’ 2018 agreement on Provisional Accord on the nomi- ed population.” intercultural dialogue and human was intended to normalise the episcopal appointments. nation of bishops, signed Sept The Vatican has sent between rights were exchanged.” situation of China’s Catholics and The Feb 14 meeting took place 22, 2018, renewing the willing- 600,000 to 700,000 face masks The Church in mainland China unify the underground Church in Munich on the sidelines of the ness to continue the institutional to three provinces in China since has been divided for some 60 and the CPCA. The agreement Munich Security Conference. dialogue at the bilateral level to Jan 27 to help contain the spread years between the underground has been roundly criticised by “In the course of the colloquy, promote the life of the Catholic of coronavirus, and Pope Francis Church, which is persecuted and human rights groups and some which took place in a cordial at- Church and the good of the Chi- prayed for those infected during whose episcopal appointments Church leaders, including Cardi- mosphere, the contacts between nese people,” the Holy See press his Jan 26 Angelus prayer. are frequently not acknowledged nal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Bishop the two parties were evoked, office wrote. The press office communique by Chinese authorities, and the Emeritus of Hong Kong. — CNA 2 FORUM / REFLECTION HERALD February 23, 2020 A looming spiritual battle he other day, at a forum, speaker after through Sister Water, speaker highlighted overdevelopment, Sunday Observer which is very useful and humble Tthe ecological challenges and the lack and precious and chaste… of affordable housing for the poor. By They were specific and passionate about Praised be You, my Lord, their numerous complaints, which they felt Anil Netto through Sister Mother Earth, strongly about. [email protected] who sustains us and governs us It dawned on me that humanity is facing a and who produces spiritual battle that is much larger than many varied fruits with coloured of the specific problems that were highlight- canticle was sung by Francis on his deathbed flowers and herbs. ed. two years later, accompanied by his compan- What we are confronted with is human and ions, Brothers Angelo and Leo. Francis’ poetic language to describe the corporate greed – a problem down the ages What was remarkable was that Francis was beauty, solidarity and interconnectedness of – which drives some to grab and accumulate believed to be suffering from an eye disease all Creation is reminiscent of the language more than their fair share, even resources that – and yet, he could see in his inner mind the Jesus used in Luke 12:23-27, where he spoke should be shared (the Commons) by all. unity of all Creation. Perhaps this is why about the birds in the air and the flowers and Now, this may not have been as critical some people feel so much anguish when they lilies in the field clothed grander than the roy- in the past, when the population was lower. see bulldozers clearing a forest, or fishing wa- al robes of Solomon. Back then, many, including mainstream ters being destroyed. They can see or feel the Jesus then goes on to warn in Luke 12: 33 economists, assumed that the Earth had infi- wrenching of the spiritual bond that ties all of “Sell your possessions and give to those in nite resources to feed our production and as- Creation together. need. Get yourselves purses that do not wear sembly lines and satisfy our appetites to con- So Francis’ canticle assumes much signifi- out, treasure that will not fail you, in heaven sume. But this is no longer the case. cance in our age. Here are a few verses: where no thief can reach it and no moth de- While we argue about race and religion, the Be praised, my Lord, stroy it.” This accumulation of wealth is driv- reality is that we are faced with critical prob- through all your creatures, ing much of the destruction of the ecology in lems that recognise none of these human divi- especially through my lord Brother Sun, our world today. sions and borders. Think of the coronavirus, who brings the day; Francis, seeing the interconnectedness the regional smog, the water crisis, the declin- and you give light through him. of Creation and its communion with the di- ing fisheries, plastic waste that have affected And he is beautiful and vine, took the words of Jesus literally.