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Federation of Asian Bishops‟ Conferences – Office of Social Communication OOSSCC 1916 CTM Bldg. Oroquieta Street Sta. Cruz, Manila 1003 Philippines Tel: (632) 7327170, 338776 Fax: 7327171 Email: [email protected]

PAKISTAN: CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS MAKE AN : WORLD COMMUNICATION DAY APPEAL AGAINST TERRORISM AND VIOLENCE CELEBRATED In the course of a November 18 seminar entitled “Learning to Bishop Percival Fernandes, Emeritus Auxiliary of the Live Together with Diversity and Differences,” Christian and Archdiocese of Bombay, was the main celebrant of the special Muslim participants agreed to a joint appeal, asking the Eucharist celebrated on the occasion of 46th World government to take decisive measures against extremists and Communications Day (India) on Sunday, November 18, at St. terrorists, who sow divisions, conflict, hatred and panic in Theresa‟s Church, Bandra, Mumbai. Over twenty priests from society. Organized in conjunction with the Muslim holy month different parts of Bandra concelebrated with him. The Eucharist of Muharram-ul-Haram, the meeting was designed to promote was the highlight of the day-long celebrations jointly tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among Pakistan‟s organized by the Pauline Family consisting of the Society of St different communities, regardless of differences. The Peace and Paul, Daughters of St Paul, and Sister Disciples of the Divine Human Development Foundation (PHD Foundation) and the Master, (all founded by Bl. James Alberione), the Tej Prasarini Christian Study Center (CSC) were behind the interfaith (Don Bosco Communications Centre) and St. Theresa‟s initiative held at the TMA Hall in Tandlinawala, a sub-district Parish, together with the other Parishes of the Bandra Faisalabad. Organized in view of the celebrations for Ashura deanery. (CBCI) (10th day of the month of Muharram, 24 November), which both TAIWAN: FILM DOCUMENT ON INDONESIAN Shias and Sunnis celebrate with mourning and fasting, the event BISHOP AND “NATIONAL HERO” saw the participation of activists, religious leaders and The Indonesian film “Soegija” was shown for the first time on representatives from the two communities. (ASIANEWS) June 7 in Jakarta. It concerns Msgr. Albertus Soegijapranata, the INDIA: CHURCH LOSES BATTLE OVER first native who was to be ordained bishop of the local Catholic „JEEVAN TV‟ MANAGEMENT Church. The film‟s official premier was attended by President The Catholic Church in Kerala received a major jolt on Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, together with senior state November 14 when the state‟s High Court refused to revoke the officials. The film, which focuses on national identity, sacking of two prelates from the board of a television channel. independence and coexistence between different religions, has The boardroom war in the Jeevan Telecasting Corporation that made its entrance into Taiwan. During the screening in Taiwan, manages the Church-initiated Jeevan TV took a dramatic turn the film‟s director Garin Nugroho said in an interview that on November 12 when its shareholders in an extraordinary “Soegijapranata was the leader of a religious world; he was the general body meeting expelled their chairperson Archbishop first Indonesian bishop, appointed during the Second World Andrews Thazhath of Trichur with immediate effect. Also War. He was “a writer, a thinker, the editor of a Catholic removed was vice-chairperson and board member, retired magazine of that time. He was “a speaker with rare diplomatic Archbishop of Trichur. Trichur Syro- skill.” (ASIANEWS) Malabar archdiocese started the television channel 10 years ago INDIA: IN THE YEAR OF THE FAITH, PRAY WITH with then Archbishop Thoomkuzhy as the founding member YOUR CHILDREN, READ THE GOSPEL, BISHOP SAYS and chairman. Later the company went public with a paid-up Read the Gospel, enhance family prayer and do charity within capital of 250 million rupees (US$4.55 million). The tug of war the community. These are the counsels that Msgr. Govindu Joji, between the clergy and lay directors started after the channel‟s Bishop of Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), gave to the faithful of managing director, Baby Mathew, tried to take over the Christurajapuram parish, on November 25, feast of Christ the company. Mathew, a leading player in Kerala‟s tourism sector, King. During the liturgy, the prelate confirmed 20 youths and said the shareholders took the decision to remove the prelates to gave first communion to 30 children. (CBCPNEWS) ensure professional quality. (CBCPNEWS) KOREA: PROMOTE THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE SRI LANKA: AGAINST ABORTION, BISHOPS SET DAY MORE IN THE „YEAR OF FAITH,‟ BISHOP SAYS FOR THE UNBORN The crisis in the faith of Korean Catholics “is born from the The Catholic Bishops‟ Conference of Sri Lanka (CSCSL) has weak foundations of the promotion of the Christian message. I dedicated 11 November, to unborn children to protest a hope and I ask you all to relaunch concrete programs for the government‟s plan to legalize abortion. As part of their action, Year of Faith, to foster a rebirth of our joint commitment.” This the bishops urged the faithful in each diocese, especially is what the Archbishop of Seoul, Msgr. Andrew Yeom Soo- teenagers, young people, families and doctors, to pray and jung, writes in the episcopal letter that accompanies organize meetings to raise awareness about the issue. The “Introduction to the Year of Faith,” a booklet sent by the CBCSL has also decided to raise funds in each parish to devolve archdiocese to every parish. The letter is titled “Let us walk to single mothers and to mothers who might be considering forward in faith with our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ who leads having an abortion. (CBCPNEWS) us to the fulfillment of the faith.” (CBCPNEWS)

FABC-OSC Communication INFO November 2012 Vol. 27 No. 11 INDIA: PAULINE FAMILY FOUNDER REMEMBERED SINGAPORE: CHOIR RAISES FUNDS FOR Italian-born Blessed James Alberione, founder of the Pauline CAMBODIAN CHARITY Family, was remembered on Nov 26 as the Society of St. Paul The 40-member Cantate Domino Choir from the Church of in Hastinapur in Guwahati celebrated Eucharist presided over the Risen Christ has raised close to S$4,500 for a Cambodian by Archbishop John Moolachira. In his message Archbishop charity at their two-hour long concert on October 13. The choir, John Moolachira appreciated the charism of the Pauline Family which sings at the Sunday 11.30 am Mass, donated the proceeds to proclaim the Gospel through the media. Tracing the history from its 10th anniversary concert to nuns of the Missionary that inspired Blessed Alberione to found the Congregations Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Poipet, Cambodia. The Archbishop Mooachira said, “The work of God can be done nuns work in health care as well as primary education. (CN) only by men and women of God. According to Blessed PHILIPPINES: IMAGE OF CALUNGSOD ON Alberione, the fruits of our apostolate depends on our „knees‟ NATIONAL TOUR meaning the time spent in prayer. Blessed Alberione insisted The image of Pedro Calungsod, the country‟s second saint, that interior life is the soul of the apostolate. He himself spent went on national tour on November 15 following his long hours in prayer. And the success of his mission was his canonization by Pope Benedict XVI at Saint Peter‟s Basilica on closeness to Christ.” (CBCI) October 21. Young people who accompanied the image on INDIA: NATIONAL ARTISTS‟ CAMP tour hopes that the activity will lead to a renewal of faith among A national artists‟ camp organized by Kerala Lalithakala Filipinos. Pedro Calungsod from the central Philippines served Akademi, and art.i, an initiative of the Catholic in the Jesuit Mission in the Marianas as a teenage catechist and Bishops‟ Conference of India Office for Social Communications helper from 1668 until his martyrdom in 1672. (UCANEWS) (CBCI-OSC), New Delhi, was held at Pilar Theological SINGAPORE: BOOK ON YEAR OF FAITH RELEASED College, Pilar, from Nov 25 to Dec 1. St. Andre MLA and Kala The Catholic Bishops‟ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Academy chairman Vishnu Surya Waghwill inaugurated the Brunei has released the book entitled “A New Missal, A New camp. Ten senior artists from Kerala and five artists from Goa Craft, A New Evangelization” to inaugurate the Year of Faith. participated with their paintings on display at Pilar Theological The book provides practical liturgical theology for the special College. During the camp, the Pilar Theological College also year. It also contains reflections for Neighborhood Christian hosted an exhibition of paintings on “Mother Teresa- Communities (NCCs), Small Christian communities (SCCs) and Communicator of compassion” at its museum hall. (CBCI) Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) on how people can “live” INDIA: MAGAZINE TO PROMOTE TRIBAL the Eucharist in their daily lives. The book also features LANGUAGE RELEASED suggested prayers, scripture readings, and an excerpt of a The General Councilor for Social Communications of Don Vatican II document on sacred liturgy. It is tailored to match the Bosco Society in Rome, Filberto Gonzalez, has released a recently produced interactive DVD, “Become One Body One monthly socio-cultural magazine to promote a tribal language in Spirit In Christ” by the “International Committee on English in northeastern state of Tripura. The pilot issue of the 32-page the Liturgy” (ICEL). (CN) literary magazine, Aitorma (Morning Star), is initially targeting TAIWAN: INDIGENOUS BIBLE HELPS RESTORE some 40,000 readers of Kokborok language, which has over one TRIBE‟S CULTURAL IDENTITY million speakers in Tripura and in parts of adjoining The Tsou indigenous people of Central Taiwan, numbering Bangladesh. “It is beautiful when we are passionate about 7,000 and mostly Catholics, will receive their own copy of the culture of people because culture lies in the heart and is the sum New Testament translated in their dialect coming December. total of what we are,” said Gonzalez. (CBCI) Spearheading the translation is Divine Word Fr. Anton Weber, a SINGAPORE: ROLE-PLAYING AT „NEIGHBORHOOD German native, who ministered to the tribe in Alishan, a village CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES‟ DAY in Chiayi, for 30 years. The Indigenous Theology Research On October 13, 200 Catholics from Neighborhood Christian Center at Fu Jen Catholic University says that Taiwan‟s 240,000 Communities (NCCs) across the archdiocese came together for Catholics include about 100,000 to 120,000 indigenous people. their annual NCC Day, held in Catholic Junior College. The Amis, Atayal, Truku, Paiwan, Bunun, Rukai and Tsou Catholics theme this year was “Go You Are Sent Forth.” But this time, already have the Gospel, Missal and hymns in their respective there was a special role-play exercise in small groups, an languages. The Bible Society in Taiwan has been working on activity not done before. For this, people acting as “non- Bible translations since 1968. (UCANEWS) Catholics” were introduced to the groups, and the groups then had to “evangelize” them. The purpose was to introduce participants to the different kinds of people they could meet and to see how NCC members could share Christ with them. (CN) ______Solitude and silence (are) privileged states which help people to rediscover themselves and that Truth which gives meaning to all things. – Pope Benedict XVI, Message for World Communication Day 2012

FABC-OSC Communication INFO November 2012 Vol. 27 No. 11