Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he JULY 19, 2020 who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for TERHAD PP 8460/11/2012(030939) the saints according to the will of God. ISSN: 1394-3294 Vol. 27 No. 24 THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY Rom. 5:12-15 Americans, Hong Kong work for peace! CLEVELAND: As the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of two Japanese cit- ies approaches, the president of the county’s Catholic Bishops’ Conference called on the suspends United States “as a Christian nation” to wit- ness to the Gospel of peace as lived by Je- sus. Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki, Japan, said in a July 8 email that “Americans need to understand and practice the truth of peace that Christ teaches.” “I have the impression that most Ameri- cans believe that arms are necessary to pro- public Masses tect oneself, one’s families and the nation. History, however, demonstrates how arms brought about tragedies. I want Americans to work for peace without the possession and use of weapons,” the archbishop said. He also reiterated his long-standing call that the time is long past for the world to abolish nuclear weapons. a second time Nagasaki, the hub of Catholicism in Ja- ONG KONG: Hong pan, was the second city over which an Kong diocese suspended atomic bomb was dropped by a US warplane all public Masses for a on Aug 9, 1945. Hiroshima suffered a simi- H lar fate three days earlier. Japan surrendered second time following a surge six days after the second detonation, ending in COVID-19 cases amid a third World War II. wave of the contagion in the for- Archbishop Takami, 74, is a survivor of mer British colony. the bombing of Nagasaki, his hometown. He was in his mother’s womb when the bomb, Churches and chapels will have to sus- known as Fat Man, detonated over the city, pend all public Masses from July 15 to ultimately claiming between 39,000 and July 28 “to reduce the risk of community 80,000 lives. transmission as far as possible,” Cardinal Historians and analysts estimate that be- John Tong, Apostolic Administrator of tween 129,000 and 226,000 people, most of Hong Kong, said in a statement. them civilians, died in the two bombings. Cardinal Tong asked the faithful to at- The archbishop has been a vocal propo- tend Sunday Mass online through the nent of nuclear disarmament throughout his diocesan website (www.catholic.org.hk), 48 years as a priest. This year in particular he which also telecasts daily Mass and other has travelled the world and to the United Na- liturgical services. tions with what remains of a wooden statue In the July 14 statement, the cardinal of Mary rescued from Nagasaki’s destroyed asked parishes to keep churches open to Urakami Cathedral. He shows the scorched allow individuals to pray. Those praying head of Mary to demonstrate the utterly dev- have to wear face masks, sanitise their astating effects of the blast and the ensuing hands, check their body temperature and The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Diocese suspended inferno, telling anyone who will listen how follow social distancing norms. Masses for a second time on July 14 following another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the absurd war is. The cardinal also asked priests to sus- city. (UCA News photo) The tone of his email indicated that the pend Christian sacraments like Baptisms, The toll was slightly lower than the levels recently. current state of affairs regarding nuclear First Communions and Confirmations un- previous day’s 52 cases. However, the “The recent emergence of local cases of weapons concerns the archbishop. He said til July 28. figures remained broadly in line with the unknown source indicates the existence he views the collapse of arms control treaties Cardinal Tong has directed the faithful recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Hong of sustained silent transmission in the between the US and Russia, plans by both to conduct marriages and funerals with Kong. community,” the administration said in a countries to spend billions of dollars to up- fewer than 20 participants. At least 12 taxi drivers were tested statement outlining the new measures. grade stockpiles, and efforts by other nations It is the second such suspension in positive on July 13 and some of their pas- Since late January, the financial hub has to acquire such weapons as troubling. the diocese since the pandemic began to sengers also fell victim. reported more than 1,500 cases and eight “I fully agree with Pope Francis that the spread. The first suspension was lifted on The authorities have warned of the risk deaths. world has not learned anything from the June 1 after more than three months. of a large-scale outbreak. The administration is planning to im- tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” he The Hong Kong Special Administrative Schools have been suspended from pose curbs on travellers from high-risk said. Region government imposed strict new July 10 and summer vacations have been places, and to require a negative test re- The Pope, during a visit to Hiroshima and social distancing measures from July 14 advanced amid fears of a new round of sult before starting the journey. Nagasaki in November, said it was “per- midnight, the most stringent in the Asian infections in the territory. Chief executive Carrie Lam said the verse” to think that the threat of nuclear financial hub since the pandemic broke The new restrictions include mandatory new measures were aimed at public health weapons makes the world safer. He urged out in January. face masks for people using public trans- and social acceptability and warned of a a renewed commitment to nuclear disarma- The administration has reduced group port and only takeaway facility at restau- prolonged duration of the pandemic. ment and to international treaties to limit or gatherings from four persons to 50 – a rants. Violators risk fines of 5,000 Hong Lam vowed to increase the testing ca- eliminate nuclear weapons. measure adopted during the second wave Kong dollars ($645). pability among high-risk groups like Archbishop Takami also lamented the of the infection in March. Gyms and indoor entertainment centres nursing homes, caterers and taxi drivers. disinterest shown by much of the world Hong Kong reported 48 new coronavi- will remain closed. The administration Public Masses in Hong Kong had been in the threat nuclear weapons pose. — By rus cases on July 14, including 40 locally said these severe measures became nec- suspended on Feb 14, which was revoked Dennis Sadowski, CNS transmitted cases. essary after drastic changes in infection on June 1 by Cardinal Tong. — AsiaNews 2 Forum / Reflection HERALD July 19, 2020 Amid persecution and darkness, expect the unexpected hese are dark days we live in. In many zeal. nations, democracy and basic free- Sunday Observer Saul’s targets were believed to be Greek- Tdoms, including media freedom, are speaking converts to Christianity, part of the under threat. By Jewish diaspora who had returned to Jeru- And with the economic outlook uncertain salem, who did not seem so inclined to the and people struggling, there is a tendency Anil Netto Temple traditions in Jerusalem. among some to scapegoat or turn their frus- Many suffered during this great persecu- [email protected] tration on ‘the Other” — migrants, refugees, tion, not least Stephen, the first martyr, who minorities, anyone who is remotely different. was stoned to death. Along with it comes a certain jingoistic or 13 with a stormy first day of debates, culmi- pecially from Saul, also known as Paul. For Saul, the Temple and tradition had the xenophobic rhetoric invoking superficial pat- nating in the removal of the Speaker – per- Now Saul was a student of Gamaliel the monopoly of the truth, and the Christians riotism to silence dissenting views. haps the best Speaker we have had since in- Elder, an authority on the Pharisaic tradition were a grave threat. We see this trend in many countries. dependence. There was much rancour, even in the First Century AD and a leading figure But in a dramatic twist, Jesus won him At the same time, there are real problems chaos, in the House. in the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. over on the Road to Damascus, some time with poverty, even as wealth is concentrated It was all a world away from the perfor- This was the Gamaliel who seemed sym- between AD 31-36, and the rest is history. He in fewer and fewer hands. mance of the youth in Parlimen Digital, a pathetic to the Apostles in Acts, and even used Paul’s zeal to spread the Gospel to the Last year, the then-UN special rapporter weekend online virtual ‘parliamentary’ ses- argued against putting them to death. If the Gentiles and saved the Christians in the re- on extreme poverty, Phillip Alston, pointed sion organised by a few youth groups. This message the Apostles had was from just or- gion from immediate persecution. to Malaysia’s poverty line income threshold session featured 222 young people from dinary mortals, it would die a natural death, Both Peter and Paul, however, had to face of RM980 and poverty rate of 0.4 per cent diverse backgrounds and regions acting as he said. On the contrary, if the message was suffering and even martyrdom. But before which he felt was unrealistically low. ‘MPs’. Their debates were on point, sober, from God, it could not be overthrown – and the Empire knew it, the new Jesus movement This prompted the government to recently earnest and well prepared. These youth give to attempt to do so would be equivalent to had taken root in the very heart of Rome. raise the poverty line income to RM2,208 per us much hope for the future. fighting against God (Acts 5:38-39). Today, we have modern-day persecutors month per household. This in turn raised the As we emerge from our homes, were there In this, Gamaliel was prescient, and the who try to snuff out the truth, silence dissent- absolute poverty rate from 0.4 per cent to 5.6 any lessons we picked up during the recent Apostles were vindicated as their movement ing voices or crack down on those advocat- per cent - an increase of 14 times. lockdown? Are we going back to our unsus- and their message, far from fading away, ing a more just and sustainable world. But Alston still believes the new poverty tainable development model – more cars, grew from strength to strength. These persecutors may inflict a lot of suf- income threshold of RM2,208 and higher more highways, more forest clearing, more This is a little puzzling. If Gamaliel was fering in the process and they may hold sway poverty rate of 5.6 per cent is too low - only burning of fossil fuels, more unnecessary so tolerant of the disciples, how did Saul, his for a while. a third of the figure estimated in most inde- mega-projects? student, become so consumed with rage at But the Light of the world cannot be pendent analyses. Last year he had estimated Sometimes, it is all too easy to return to the the followers of Jesus? snuffed out, neither can the flame of the Spir- the actual poverty rate to be around 15 to 20 old and familiar, rather than blaze a new trail. That makes some wonder if Saul really it be extinguished. He works in unexpected per cent. The Apostles, after the crucifixion of Jesus, studied at the feet of Gamaliel, or if he did, ways and shines a great light when all seems If this is true, it doesn’t serve anyone’s were probably no different. They must have what he actually studied. Others even claimed lost and dark – a light so dazzling it blinded interest to underestimate the poverty rate. been tempted to return to their simple lives in that Gamaliel secretly became a Christian! Saul for three days. It would only give a misleading picture, es- Galilee, to their humble jobs by the lake, far Either way, what is clear is that Saul could Meanwhile, unseen by the human eye, pecially to policymakers trying to tackle the away from the troubles in Jerusalem. not stand the disciples of Jesus proclaiming the kingdom of God is spreading wildly like problem. Even after the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Good News in Jerusalem and beyond, shoots from a mustard seed. We wait for the Meanwhile, Parliament resumed on July the disciples were not spared persecution, es- and he persecuted them with extraordinary next unexpected twist. Sixteenth Sunday: The Christian Farmer’s Almanac he parable of the mustard seed. And Je- their children became parents and did the Tsus said, “behold the mustard seed. It is same. And their children are the Moms and Reflecting on our Sunday Readings the smallest of seeds yet it grows into a large Dads of our parish. The Church is full of bush.” good Christian men and woman, people of haps in the school there are other children 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time I want to begin this article with something all walks of life, even priests, all living the who may not have experienced basic human Readings: Jeremiah 20:10-13; you are doing right now, but might be tak- values of the Kingdom of God, the spiritual values. Perhaps they have been raised in vio- ing for granted: reading. We all can pick up realities of life. lent households, or households torn apart by Romans 5:12-15; a newspaper, a magazine, a novel, or what- And now you are doing the same. You are some form of addiction. Perhaps they have Gospel: Matthew 10:26-33 ever and, in a few moments, be brought into teaching the ABCs of religion to your chil- witnessed people hurting others, taking what a world beyond our immediate surroundings. dren. You have faith that the Kingdom of is not theirs, using bad language, doing ter- His drinking is destroying himself and his We can learn new things; we can develop our God will spread through them. So, do not rible things. As a result, these children may family. Through prayer and the determina- own intelligence; we can agree or disagree wonder if anything is getting through to the have some pretty rough edges. Should the tion to change his life and through his own with someone we have never met and never children. Do not allow yourself to think that principal of the school throw the children openness to the grace of God, he goes for will meet; we can be transported to the world maybe nothing is happening for your chil- from dysfunctional homes out before they help. He first becomes a member of AA. of imagination, all due to our ability to read. dren. Trust in God. If a child who learns his Then he is active in helping others. Now for cause serious problems, or should he give Now how did this start? How did we learn letters can become a professor of English the last fifteen years he has been dry. He is them the opportunity to learn decent values to read? We started, most of us, with blocks Literature, a child who learns the simplest still an alcoholic, but his condition has re- from the school and even from their class- and individual letters. We learned what lessons of faith can become a great force of sulted in virtue overcoming vice. Now he sounds these letters represented. Then we love for the Kingdom of God. Say prayers mates? Yes, children need to be removed helps others. God did not give up on him. He put the letters together and learned how to with your children. Allow God to turn the from the mainstream if they do something did not give up on himself. What looked like spell words. We learned new words. We put tiny mustard seed into a great plant. that threatens the welfare of the other chil- weed, the disease of alcoholism, turned out the words together and learned new concepts The parable of the weeds and the wheat is dren, but they are not going to be removed if to be wheat as it let him bring God’s healing or reinforced those we had already learned. like this. Jesus said, “The Kingdom of Heav- they have not offended gravely, because the to other alcoholics. In very small steps, we went from the letters en is like the farmer who sowed wheat, then plants are still young and there may be wheat The parable of the mustard seed shows on the blocks to being able to read the phi- an enemy came and sowed weeds....” The where we think there is weed. that the little efforts we make for the King- losophy of St Thomas Aquinas. weeds and the wheat grew together. “Let The Kingdom of Heaven is like the life of dom of God have a tremendous impact upon It all began in a small way. It all began us get rid of the weeds,” said his workers every man and every woman. There is that the world. The parable of the weeds and with letters. The Kingdom of God is like a when the weeds and the wheat were still tiny in each of us which is wheat. There is that wheat shows that God has infinite patience. child learning his or her letters. Time goes on plants. “Better not,” said the farmer, “you which is weed. Should God destroy us be- He is not about to give up on his people. We and Mom, Dad, and teachers work with the might lose some of the wheat too. We will cause of the weed in us? Or should he give should not give up on others. And we should child, and the child’s ability to read grows wait until they are ready for harvesting when us time? Perhaps that which is weed in us not give up on ourselves. so great that the child becomes a profes- we’re sure we know what is weed and what can be overtaken by that which is wheat. A The parable of the mustard seed and the sor of English Literature. And so it is with is wheat. Then we’ll get rid of the weeds.” strong prayer life goes a long way in pre- parable of the weeds and the wheat. Two the Kingdom of God. Great-Grandma and The Kingdom of Heaven is like the School venting serious sin. The Divine Farmer isn’t simple parables. Two simple stories. Two Great-Grandpa taught their children their where we send our treasures, our children. ready to give up on the crop. We should not tremendous sources of encouragement for prayers. They brought their children to They are not finished products when they get give up on ourselves. God knows that what us. church and taught them with their lives to there. They have to do a lot of growing. They may appear to be weed is, in reality, wheat. Amazing Grace. — By Msgr Joseph A value their relationship with the Lord. And are still our treasures, and we love them. Per- For example, a man has a drinking problem. Pellegrino HERALD July 19, 2020 Home / Pastporal 3

Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur Resumption of Sacramental Life in Phase 3 Dearest clergy, religious and ing able to return to church and being a part seating capacity. But it is important to note prehensive review of the implementation of of the Eucharistic assembly. But you need to that the restriction of requiring one metre so- the protocols and determine that the Parish brothers and sisters in Christ, be patient as we wish to take a gradual ap- cial distancing remains in force. and the teams of volunteers are trained and proach to allow everyone to return to church For these reasons, the reduced capacity ready to cater to the increased frequency Greetings of peace and love from our in a safe manner, so as to avoid a resurgence of our churches, chapels and Mass centres of Masses and the number of participants Lord Jesus Christ. of this pandemic and to protect our most has not changed. In short, the announcement before moving into Phase 3. Remember to vulnerable members. has no impact on our current arrangements complete and submit the Reporting Tem- We are grateful to Almighty God for the Several media outlets reported that the and Catholics are still required to follow the plate to the Archdiocese before proceeding many blessings and graces that we have ex- Honourable Senior Minister, Datuk Seri guidelines set by the different parishes in the to the next Phase. perienced these past few weeks. We have Ismail Sabri, on behalf of the Majlis Kes- selection of who gets to attend Mass on Sun- Other parishes have decided to continue seen a considerable decline in the number elamatan Negara (MKN), announced that day. The method of selection and registra- with one public Mass per week as pre- of new Covid 19 cases and zero mortality. “there will no longer be a limit as to how tion varies from parish to parish. scribed under Phase 2. I would like to en- Many Catholics have been relieved to return many people can attend a conference, social I wish to congratulate the various par- courage each of these parishes to reach out to their churches to celebrate Mass and re- gathering or prayers in mosques or places ishes and volunteers, under the guidance of to as many Catholics possible who are eligi- ceive the Lord in the Eucharist. Our social/ of worship, starting July 15.” (The Star, 10 their respective priests, for re-opening their ble and willing to attend the weekly Masses. economic life is slowly emerging from the July 2020) parishes in a safe way and in compliance I do understand that due to the single Mass doldrums and inertia brought on by several This report needs to be qualified and clari- with the governmental SOPs and the Arch- allowed for each Sunday, the limited seating months of lockdown. And our schools are fied in the light of the original speech by the diocesan Guidelines. Different parishes are capacity and the restrictions imposed by the re-opening for our children to return in a Honourable Senior Minister. The context of working on different timelines as they move authorities, many will not be able to attend safe manner. the report is a decision to resolve the dis- from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of the re-opening Mass on a weekly basis. Please remember But even as we have many reasons to cel- crepancy between the SOP for social gath- exercise. that for those who are unable to attend Mass ebrate, we are reminded by the public health erings (which limits participation to 250 Several parishes have decided that they on a Sunday, you are dispensed from the ob- authorities that we are not entirely out of the persons) and the SOP for places of worship are ready to move to Phase 3, where there ligation until it is possible for you to return woods and we must continue to responsibly (limits attendance to one third of the total will be an increase in the number of Masses in a more regular fashion. exercise prudence and caution whilst plac- seating capacity). The decision taken was to over weekends. I would like to reiterate that For the parishes which are deciding to ing our faith and trust in God. standardise the two SOPs by lifting the re- the Parish Response Teams of these par- move into Phase 3, I would like to lay down I know that many of you are excited at be- strictions on the number of participants and ishes have an obligation to conduct a com- some additional guidelines: Phase 3: Additional Guidelines 1.0 Age Restriction 3.0 Infant Baptisms 5.0 Marriages and Funerals of selection and manner of distribution of Holy Communion to those who are unable to come. Please ensure that you adhere strictly to public health precautions and not put anyone at unnec- essary risk. The Archdiocese will disseminate a report on the latest survey conducted among the clergy to assist you in your deliberations and deci- sion making.

8.0. Sunday School, RCIA, Meetings (Parish/ BEC) Currently under the MKN SOP, only 20 persons In-person classes, meetings and gatherings are still Under the latest MKN SOP on plac- are allowed at a wedding and 15 persons at a not allowed until further notice. es of worship dated June 24, 2020 Infant baptisms may be conducted in the funeral. Please also check your respective state As the various parishes move through the dif- (which is subject to further review churches according to the Archdiocesan health regulations. The SOPs are reviewed and ferent phases of re-opening, I would like to ask all and amendments), seniors and chil- Guidelines but this is to take place outside updated from time to time. of you to be patient. It is unfair and uncharitable to dren are not encouraged to attend of public Masses. Only one child with his compare one parish with the other. services in places of worship. This or her family and sponsor is allowed at any 6.0 Sacraments of Initiation (RCIA) There is no room for rivalry or competition in is a public health advisory and not baptism (unless other children are from a Parish Priests should make the Church. We must remember that every parish an absolute prohibition. Due to the single household/family). arrangements for the elect is unique in terms of its needs, size and resources, higher risk, the Archdiocesan policy in their respective parishes and therefore each parish may make decisions continues to discourage those falling 4.0 Sacrament of Confirmation to receive the Sacraments which differ from others in particular circumstanc- under these categories from attending (Catechism) of Initiation under Phase 3. es. Ultimately, all parishes of the Archdiocese are public Masses. If you are planning to I will resume These Sacraments should moving together to restore our churches and chap- attend Mass even if you fall under the celebration be celebrated outside the els as centres of spiritual, pastoral and sacramental these categories, please consult your of the sacrament scheduled public Masses of life and we wish to do this safely and prudently. family members and physician and of Confirma- the parish and the number As our country slowly recovers from the effects weigh the risks for yourself, and oth- tion for cat- of invited guests should be of this pandemic, let us continue to pray for the ers, before deciding to come to Mass. echism students limited to seating capacity. people of other countries who are still battling in the parishes. this disease and suffering from the effects of the 2.0 Non Malaysians I would like to 7.0 Home Communion lockdowns. On our part, we must not let our face request that par- Due to the sharp increase in the number of persons masks down, but we should remember to wear ishes contact Ms who are ineligible to them whenever we are in public. Pursuant to pub- Anne Francis to attend a public Mass lic health advisories, we should always practise confirm the date or who have chosen social distancing and keep ourselves and our sur- of their celebra- not to attend Mass roundings clean. tion. Due to the for various reasons, limited seating and given the wide May God bless all of you and your loved ones. capacity, such celebrations should be held differences between Stay safe and stay holy. outside the scheduled public Masses of parishes in terms of  the parish. The guest list should be lim- size and resources, Yours affectionately, ited to the parents of the candidate and the it would not be pos- Due to the restriction imposed by the sponsor. The Parish Priest may, however, sible to lay down a common policy for home com- MKN SOP dated June 24, 2020, non exercise his discretion in determining the munion. + Most Rev Julian Leow Beng Kim Malaysian citizens are still not per- number of attendees based on the seating I would like each Parish Priest to reach out to Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur mitted to attend public Masses. capacity of the church. their communion ministers to discuss the criteria July 11, 2020 4 Home HERALD July 19, 2020 Adapting to the new normal

After three months of live- fter almost four months seats and many other conditions ur first Mass after the implementa- of being closed due to just makes it a weird experience “Otion of the MCO was on Friday. July streamed Masses, some Malaysian “A 3. It was a wonderful experience after three Catholics were privileged to go to the COVID-19 pandemic, our for me. Now, I’m so grateful church resumed Mass on June that we are able again to wor- months of online Masses, the highlight be- church and participate in the Eu- 28. I really missed the physical ship and adore God in church ing able to receive Holy Communion. It charistic Celebrations. Mass. Reopening feels great and to receive Holy Commun- was also great to be able to participate, and In these two pages (4-5), we Thank you Lord Jesus for that. ion. Let us continue to pray for respond to the prayers with one another in highlight some of their comments. But of course, with everyone’s and offer up the healing of our person. The authorities came and inspected face covered with a mask, so- world. With Jesus we will get the chapel before Mass and they were very cial distancing seating plan on through these hard times.” — happy that the SOP was adhered to.” — t’s a golden the pews, temperature checks, confirma- Monalisa Charles Alidin, Church of St Martin Bates, Catholic Mission Kuala “Iopportunity tion of attendance, no allowance to change Anthony, Kuala Lumpur Terengganu to be given the chance to partake in the Eucharist o celebrate Mass y husband and I were excited to attend and receive the “Tin church was “MMass and receive Holy Communion after Body of Christ, something I really months of not being able to do so. But, this ‘new for the Eucharist missed. Online Mass was normal’ Mass had a totally different feel to it, i.e.: is the source and convenient but it cannot having to follow the strict registration SOPs — from summit of the take the place of being in the counter straight to our allocated seat. There was Christian life” — God’s sanctuary to cele- no liveliness — no music or singing, no interaction Michael Leong brate the Body and Blood between the congregation. It will take some getting Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, of Christ.” — Lourdes used to after this.” — Catherine Leonard and Puchong Ushadevi Sinnadurai, Fernandez Xavier, Church of St Francis Xavier, Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Puchong Petaling Jaya

felt very happy when my RCIA facili- I participated in the function in my body and mind being healed, “Itator Christina informed us that RCIA online Mass every Sun- restored, and renewed. I was forgiven all candidates can attend Mass in St Joseph day at 10.30am but the my sins. Thank You Lord Jesus for answer- church. atmosphere is different ing my prayers and giving me this oppor- For the past three months, I’ve gone from attending Mass in tunity to attend Mass in church during this through hard times in my life staying alone, church. I feel much clos- pandemic. I believe and trust in you Lord being apart from family, falling sick during er to God. Jesus Christ.” — Bernice Michael, Church this MCO, delaying my wedding prepara- After three months, I of St Joseph, Kuala Lumpur tions and so on. received the Holy Eucharist, and felt every was delighted at the “Iprospect of going e felt rejuvenated returning to ttending Mass for the first the church to socialise with people, es- for Mass and receiving “Wour beloved church, Assump- “Atime after more then three pecially catching up with the aunties and Holy Communion after tion. It’s where I (Mark) was baptised months is an experience I cannot uncles after Mass. This will definitely more than three months and after the four-month gap, all the express with words. It was indeed be missed. However, that’s the new nor- of lockdown. It felt re- memories came flooding back. We be- a solemn moment, a moment to re- mal. So, we pray for those who cannot ally good to go to church lieve this makes us stronger ... Hari ally give thanks to God for bringing come for Mass and receive the sacra- and to celebrate the Eucharist with one ini dalam sejarah !!”. — Mark and us back to Mass and to the sacra- ments, all of us may soon come together another in the one body of Christ. Noth- Theresa Chow, Church of the ments. Though some things are to worship God” —­ Malcolm Francis ing beats receiving Jesus sacramentally in Assumption, Petaling Jaya different, like not being able to gather outside Solomon, Church of Jesus Caritas, Kepong holy communion. Spiritual communion is hard to do!” — Audrey Foo, Church of the Divine Mercy, Shah Alam t has been a difficult In spite of the tedious oday in church, I just felt so grateful and happy to be “Ifour months for all of process you have to “Table to serve as hospitality minister and welcome our he first word that us, especially not being able go through before be- brothers and sisters to Mass. During Mass, I felt the joy of “Tcomes to mind to attend daily/weekly Mass- ing able to step into worshipping together in a bigger physical community and is gratitude. I felt truly es or even spend time in the church, it was defi- the joy of receiving the Eucharist. I miss the hugs and hand- privileged to be among prayer room in church. nitely worth the wait shakes though before and after Mass.” — Genevieve Yap, the few at the celebra- “Therefore, I was ex- and I cannot wait Church of St Thomas More, Subang Jaya tion of the Eucharist. It tremely happy to be given for my turn to attend felt like a homecoming the opportunity to be able Mass again in the eing back in church after four and I was overjoyed de- to attend Mass for the first time last next few weeks. spite having to conform Sunday. I hope the church will allow more “Bmonths is something I honestly never thought I’d experience. It was really to the new operating procedures. “Although I have followed week- people to attend and will allow sing- I must applaud the smooth execution of ly Masses and occasionally daily ing in the near future. Looking for- a mixture of a lot of emotions that I can’t exactly pinpoint. But essentially, I felt like the procedures by the registration and hos- Masses online, I have to say it is ward to attending Mass with my pitality teams. It was so good to be there definitely not the same feeling as family again really soon. I was finally back home and that I could finally be where my heart has been long- early and I am grateful for that precious sitting in church and receiving the — Paul Suman, Church of St time in the presence of the Blessed Sac- body and blood of Christ in person. Ignatius, Petaling Jaya ing to be” — Chloe Jade, Church of the Divine Mercy, Shah Alam rament. I was also painfully aware of the absence of many familiar faces such as the y family and I children, the seniors and the smiling faces “Mparticipated in t was with great anxiety that I attend- flowing within me. The anxiety and all of the Filipino hospitality ministers. The the Eucharistic Celebra- “Ied Mass for the first time after four kinds of feelings just vanished. Family was not complete. tion on July 5. It was a months. This has never happened before. It was magical. I felt overwhelmed and As the entrance hymn was sung, I was surreal but wonderful Being a Catholic, missing Sunday Mass- was full of God’s love in my heart. overcome with gratitude and also felt im- experience, especially to es and the Eucharist was not easy for me. I thank the Lord for His awesome pres- mense joy from within. I felt like I was on partake in Holy Commun- But as I received the Eucharist after a ence in the Eucharist. Amen.” the mountain top and wanted to thank God ion after four months! long period of time, I felt a great blessing — Catherine Lucas, Church of St John for His Goodness. The moment I received “It was also great to see and experienced the peace and love of God Vianney, Tampin the Eucharist was truly an intimate and other parishioners and joyful moment. Spiritual communion can hear Fr Bernard Hyacinth t was a wonderful experience es- ally missed. Mass is definitely not the same never be a substitute for receiving Jesus and Fr Clarence Deva- “Ipecially with the Eucharist. I used though, as we can't sit where we like and sacramentally. So I will continue to pray dass speak live!!” to take the body of Christ for granted. can't sing out loud praises to God. and wait with great hope for my broth- —Dennis Appaduray, Now that I did not have it for more than I just feel so blessed to have received the ers and sisters who have yet to participate Church of Our Lady of three months, it felt extra special and I Body of Christ.” in the Eucharist, and for when my turn Fatima, Kuala Lumpur was moved to tears when I was about to — Christina Chandrasegarah, Church of comes again. — Carol Lazar, Church of receive Him. It's the Eucharist that I re- St Thomas More, Subang Jaya St Francis of Xavier, Petaling Jaya HERALD July 19, 2020 Home 5 A surreal experience at Mass

t feels good oing to church last Sunday up to receive the Eucharist as if in did participate “Ito be able to “Gwas a surreal experience. a dream. In fact, I might have even “Iin the Mass come to church Once inside the church, I experi- forgotten to keep my distance held on July 5. It and worship God enced a warm sensation yet I had in my excitement to receive the was indeed sadden- together with our goosebumps. I was so in awe that Lord. Never had the Communion ing to be away from fellow parishion- I could not even find the words host tasted so sweet and fresh. the Church for three ers and receive the to pray. My mind went blank, in When I returned to my pew, all I months. To make body of Christ.” blissful contemplation. I sat in the could pray was “Thank you Lord” matters worse, — Monica Pereira, Church of St pew, oblivious for the most part over and over. there was no receiv- Aloysius, Mantin to the people around me. It was like it was To sum up my experience of being physi- ing of Communion just me, and I experienced a calming peace- cally at Mass after almost three months’ although Masses ful presence about me. Mass finally started, absence, I was blissfully dumbstruck and were conducted online. felt blessed to be ‘selected’ to par- I had to fight back my tears, thinking about on cloud nine. It was just me and the Lord It came as good news to all (as if the “Iticipate in the Mass after being away others who were not able to be at Mass. there that day.” — Teresa John, Church of good news came from our Lord), the for so long. I felt that I was ‘going home’, When Communion time came, I walked St Thomas More, Subang Jaya announcement that the Churches can to a place where I belong, in my Father's be opened for worship, though it was House. I was very allowed with some strict SOPs. I felt excited and reached t’s a blessing to have been ven with the so honoured to be physically present church 45 minutes “Iable to return to church “ESOP restric- in church despite the dictate that all be before Mass start- and partake at Mass on July 5 tions, it brought seated at a distance from one another ed, as instructed. after months of not being able moments of joy and that the mask be worn when walk- The registration to do so. During Communion, when I saw all of ing towards the priest to receive Com- and screening pro- as we all journeyed to receive us come to the munion. cess went smooth- Jesus with our masks on, I banquet of God as I believe all this has happened for a ly. It was indeed pondered on how now we have one family to wor- good reason. This pandemic had caused a joy to be able to to come to Jesus in a new man- ship and and give thanks to Him. I great difficulties to many but it did not receive Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist!” ner. treasured that moment. Thank you, Je- dampen our faith and belief in our Lord — Celine Goh, Church of St Anthony, However, I know the rules are for the safety sus.” — Peter Loh, Minor Basilica St Jesus Christ. I was given a seat at the last Kuala Lumpur and good of everyone. I then realised, that in Anne, Bukit Mertajam bench and sat all alone. I had difficulty our lives we at times put on a mask as we are reading the Responsorial Psalms written t was surreal….walking into the afraid to be ourselves when we are with others. on the whiteboard hung right in front of articipating in the Mass was church grounds again after what As we pulled our mask down to receive Christ, the rostrum but all this definitely did not “I different. I felt both happy and seemed like eternity. I felt like I was com- it dawned on me that no matter what, it is only “P hinder me from participating in the Mass sad. I felt the loss of the hugs and ing home. I could feel my heart beat quick- with Christ that we can truly strip off our mask celebrated on that day. I am indeed glad handshakes from friends and family. en as it was my turn to and be ourselves. to be back in church to deepen my faith I thank the gov- sign in and be ushered When we come to receive Jesus with open and to listen to God’s Word as usual. ernment for allow- to my seat. As I knelt in hearts, we are able to be our bare selves with our There used to be Internet connectivity ing us to celebrate prayer, the overwhelm- Creator who radically knows us in and out. With problems whenever online Masses were our Mass though ing feeling of being Christ we can completely be at peace. This was so streamed. Praise the Lord for giving us limited numbers in church again, fol- apt with the Gospel for that Sunday state: “Come the opportunity to return to Church. I and following the lowed soon after by the to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and personally thank Him for helping our SOPs. church bells ringing, I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and nation to contain the virus in a short I pray that was indescribable. The learn from me, for I am meek and humble of period of time though we have not won we will be able to break the chain climax of it all was receiving Holy Com- heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For the battle fully. ” — Josephine Selvaraj, of the spread of COVID-19.” — munion which was so longed for. Leaving my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew Church of St Mary, Tapah Dorothy Geoffred Daigo, Church of after Mass, felt so blessed but am looking 11: 28-30).” — Sarah Marie Alicia Anthony, St Aloysius, Mantin forward to being with the familiar church Church of St Francis of Assisi, Cheras was glad surroundings once again.” — Jennifer Sta that all my Maria, Church of St Anne, Port Klang “I was do- prayers were ing on- immediately took the answered when I opportunity offered s a Catholic I faced one of my biggest faith chal- line Masses “I I heard that the during to the BEC core teams on churches were “Alenges when I was unable to attend Mass and July 5 to receive my Lord receive the Eucharist. Receiving spiritual communion, I MCO... re-opening. loved it in the Most Holy Eucha- The moment I learnt the true meaning of what Jesus meant when he said rist, which I missed so to his Apostles “…blessed are you who don’t see yet be- but did not stepped into our find it full- dearly. Like the story of church, I only lieve” (John 20:29). Mary and Martha, I chose Attending Mass online was a big filling without the holy -sacra felt peace and serenity. I'm very ments. But I loved the homi- to be with the Lord. thankful that I had the opportunity consolation but after three months, at- The Eucharist is the mysterious centre of all tending Mass and being able to receive lies. Going back to church to receive the Body of Christ after filled me with joy and- hap the sacraments. The celebration of the Eucha- such a long time. To be able to go Christ’s body was also a surreal expe- rist is “The Source and Summit of our Chris- rience. It brought a wave of emotions piness – all the good vibes. to church is a privilege and I real- For I’m going to my father’s tian life” for everything points to this. There is ised that I had not appreciated this and a newfound love and appreciation nothing greater that one could attain. for the Holy Mass that we as Catholics house and I felt safe there ... enough before the MCO started. all the wonderful feelings of I felt truly blessed to celebrate Mass after Now I know how much going to celebrate. I am grateful to have been months of attending online Mass at home. privileged to attend Mass and will being in our church. I love church means to me and I’m grate- my church and my GOD.” — I am truly thankful and grateful to our Par- ful for that.” always understand my privilege of being a Catholic.” — ish Response team for their tireless efforts in Rosh Vettiveloo, Church of St Ignatius, Petaling Jaya Monalisa Gopal, Church of St — Laurien Antony, Church of St Thomas, Kuantan keeping with the Government’s SOPs to make Anthony, KL sure all went smoothly before and after Mass. These three months have brought many ome to me, all you who are weary and With the social distancing precautions in people closer to God. I myself have gained oming burdened, and I will give you rest” place and fewer Mass attendees, especially “C strength and hope in these trying times with back to Matthew 11:28. with the absence of children and the elderly, “C the encouraging online Masses made avail- church again My parish implemented a Mass attendance it was the same church but without the warm- able to us in the comfort of our homes. Thus it with our com- registration system four days before the sched- ing greetings and embraces. So the feeling was has brought new light to my faith journey with munity to wor- uled Masses to enable every parishioner to go obviously different. While much has changed daily contemplation, Mass and prayer. Truly ship felt like back to Mass safely and in an orderly way. De- amid COVID-19, the reason for worship has this MCO has done something good to my life I was lost and spite the limited seats, I was grateful to God not changed. How consoling it is to know that by making me slow down, contemplate and now was found. for allowing my sister and I to get seats for the Jesus wanted to bless us and receive us with reflect on the gifts and blessings bestowed on It was a renewal experience, Sunday Mass on July 5. open arms especially during this pandemic us all these years. It made me reflect on and being born again and able to re- We arrived at church 45 minutes before the crisis. We can surrender our fears and wor- appreciate life and be totally submerged in ceive the Eucharist.” Mass started. The friendly hospitality minis- ries to Him and trust that everything will be God’s mercy and grace. Amen” — Ivy Wong, — Anne Joseph, Church of Our ters assisted us with the registration and di- alright.” — Melissa Ong Hooi Yean, Church Church of St Ignatius, Petaling Jaya Lady of Guadalupe, Puchong rected us to our allocated seats. of St Francis of Xavier, Petaling Jaya 6 Home HERALD July 19, 2020 Widodo calls for massive effort to curb COVID-19 JAKARTA: Indonesian President have increased.” mitment to follow the new habits, Joko Widodo has called on his gov- He also said that the government which must be obeyed at this time,” ernment to step up efforts to contain is currently preparing to introduce he said. COVID-19, including by imposing punishments against health protocol He said many are tired of having tougher penalties on those who vio- violators, but did not give any de- had to deal with this pandemic for late health protocols. tails. months. The call came as the number of A recent survey conducted by “But we all have an obligation to new cases continued to increase fol- Airlangga University found that constantly be reminded of the impor- lowing the easing of social restric- around 70 per cent of Indonesians — tance of health protocols to keep us tions and the beginning of the new particularly in East Java which is a safe,” he said. “Negligence is an op- school year. COVID-19 hot spot — do not wear portunity for this disease to spread.” This month, Indonesia has record- face masks when outdoors. Doctor Felix Gunawan, director of ed at least 1,200 new cases each day, Fr Paulus Christian Siswantoko, the Association of Voluntary Health with the highest, 2,657, recorded on secretary of the Bishops’ Commis- Services of Indonesia, also agreed July 8. In total, the country has regis- sion for the Laity and a member of with the president. tered 76,981 cases with 3,656 deaths. the Catholic Network Against COV- He said a commitment to follow Widodo said priority should be ID-19, agreed with Widodo’s call. health protocols is very important. given to the eight provinces which He said the network has routinely “According to experts, about 80 recorded the most cases — East sought to raise public awareness percent of COVID-19 cases are Java, Jakarta, West Java, South Indonesian President Joko Widodo leads a cabinet meeting on July 13 where about the virus and prevention meas- transmitted by people who show no he asked them to make a massive effort to curb Covid-19 cases. (Photo Sulawesi, Central Java, North Suma- courtesy of the Cabinet Secretariat) ures. symptoms at all,” he said. tra, and Papua. The priest said many people mis- “Fighting the pandemic requires “We prioritise mass testing, con- of the country’s COVID-19 task tests daily, up from the current understood the term “new normal” the cooperation of leaders from all tact tracing and treatment in those re- force on July 13. 20,000. as an improved situation and so have organisations, to educate everyone gions,” Widodo said during a meet- He also asked for additional labo- Widodo also urged the tightening neglected to follow health protocols. intensively and continuously,” he ing with ministers and the chairman ratories to meet the target of 30,000 of border controls as “imported cases “People don’t yet have the com- said. — ucanews.com With virus spike, California has new round of closures, including churches LOS ANGELES: In keeping with centres, zoos, museums, card rooms limits of 100 people per service.” new directives from the State of Cali- and all bars, California Gov. Gavin The archdiocesan news release fornia to stop the spike in confirmed Newsom said in a July 13 directive. also noted that Newsom’s directives cases of the coronavirus, the Archdi- These 30 counties, which account include closures of parish offices to ocese of Los Angeles announced on for 80 per cent of the state’s popula- the public. July 13 that it will discontinue indoor tion, also are required to close indoor “Pastors may allow a minimal Masses and other liturgical services, operations of fitness centres, places number of essential parish staff effective immediately. of worship, offices for noncritical members to continue working in the “Outdoor Masses and other li- sectors, personal hair services and office provided that social distancing turgical services such as Adoration indoor malls. is observed. Parishes have continued and prayer services are allowed and Angelus, the online news outlet to serve their communities, provid- encouraged,” an archdiocesan news of the Los Angeles Archdiocese re- ing Masses online and much need release said. “Parishes may continue ported that “an email sent on Mon- social services such as food pantries to celebrate Confessions, First Com- day night (July 13) to parish pastors and hot meal distributions to com- munions, Confirmations, funerals in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa munities in need.” A doctor at Common Spirit’s Dignity Health California Hospital Medical and weddings outdoors on the parish Barbara counties ... called the restric- According to a July 14 USA Today Centre in Los Angeles takes care of a coronavirus patient May 18, 2020. grounds.” tions ‘discouraging and disappoint- story, almost half of all states “are The Los Angeles Archdiocese announced updates July 13 for liturgical “All parishioners and visitors must ing’ but also mentioned the impor- spiking at a faster rate than they were celebrations at Catholic parishes amid new California state guidelines aimed wear face coverings and practice tance of public safety.” in the spring”: Alaska, Arizona, Cali- at curbing the latest spike in confirmed cases of the coronavirus. (CNS/ Reuters/Lucy Nicholson) social distancing, even outdoors,” it “Parishes in the archdiocese had fornia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Mis- added. just begun to reopen to the public fol- souri, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, be open to the public.” following just prior to the reopening The three counties that make up lowing a phased reopening plan last Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, “My hope is that this suspension of our parishes.” the Los Angeles Archdiocese — Los month after being closed for more Texas, the US Virgin Islands, Utah, will be brief, but we owe it to our According to Johns Hopkins Uni- Angeles, Ventura and Santa Bar- than two months due to the corona- West Virginia and Wyoming. health care workers — along with versity, the US as of July 14 has sur- bara — are among the 30 counties virus pandemic,” the Angelus story On July 1, Bishop Edward J. the most vulnerable among us — to passed 3.3 million cases with over that must close indoor operations of said. “Those guidelines required that Weisenburger of Tucson, Arizona, take this temporary step,” Weisen- 136,000 deaths. Globally, there have restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, parishes take several safety and sani- announced that because of the spike burger explained. “At this time we’re been 13.1 million cases and over movie theatres, family entertainment tary precautions, including capacity in cases. “our parishes will no longer returning to the protocols we were 574,000 deaths. — CNS Vatican’s Commission for COVID-19: More spending on healthcare, less on weapons VATICAN: The Vatican’s Commis- cording to Cardinal Peter Turkson, but also between areas of peace, approval of a global ceasefire, as ble diseases, and we need to invest in sion for COVID-19 held a press Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for prosperity and environmental justice well as 170 countries’ approval of prevention, COVID-19 has revealed conference on July 14 entitled Pre- Promoting Integral Human Devel- and areas of conflict, deprivation and the UN’s call to silence weapons. the insufficient financing of treat- paring the future, building peace in opment and President of the Vatican ecological devastation. “There can “Solidarity, in times of crisis, is the ment for communicable diseases at the time of COVID-19. The speakers Commission for COVID-19, there be no healing without peace”, said new name of peace,” the cardinal the heart of many health systems,” stressed that the coronavirus pan- needs to be a globalisation of soli- Cardinal Turkson. concluded. she says, adding that “Pope Francis demic has brought to light numerous darity. Whilst today unprecedented According to Cardinal Turkson, The second speaker was Sister asked us for creative solutions. So flaws in healthcare systems around sums are being allocated to military “the reduction of conflicts is the only Alessandra Smerilli, economist and we ask ourselves: what if instead of the world and noted that money spending, the sick, the poor, the mar- way to reduce injustice and inequal- coordinator of the Vatican’s Com- making the arms race, we made the spent on weapons can be converted ginalised and the victims of conflicts ity. Armed violence, conflict and mission for COVID-19’s Economics race towards food, health and work into money spent on aid and health- are disproportionately affected by poverty are in fact linked in a cycle Task Force. Sr Smerilli stressed that safety? What are the citizens ask- care. the current crisis. So far, intercon- that impedes peace, fosters human health systems must be strengthened ing at this moment? Do they need Global military spending in 2019 nected crises (health, socio-econom- rights violations and hinders devel- and that reconverting companies that a militarily strong State, or a State was $1.9 trillion, 300 times the World ic and ecological) are widening the opment”. Cardinal Turkson lauded produce weapons could aid this. “We that invests in common goods?” — Health Organisation’s budget. Ac- gap not only between rich and poor, the UN Secretary General’s recent need protection against communica- Vatican News HERALD July 19, 2020 Asia 7 Catholics bid farewell to the late Archbishop of Chittagong, Moses M Costa CHITTAGONG: Catholics in Chit- responded and that’s how we all Nirmol Rozario, president of the tagong have prayed, brought flow- worked as a team in the diocese.” Bangladesh Christian Association, ers and shed tears for their archbish- Probal Deo, an ethnic Garo, ex- which defends the rights of Chris- op, Moses M Costa, who passed plained that half of the Catholic tians, said he spoke several times away on July 13 after a series of community in Chittagong is tribal. with Archbishop Moses Costa and strokes. Sister Violet Rodrigues, Provin- thought that the he was a forward- His funeral was held July 15 in cial of the Holy Cross Sister in Bang- looking spiritual leader. the cathedral where he was buried ladesh, spoke to AsiaNews saying “He was a brave man who next to another local bishop, the late that Archbishop Moses was a good worked with people from Dinajpur Joachim Rozario, CSC. Thousands pastor from what she could see. “He and Chittagong who live far away of people paid their respects as he was a person with depth of thought to better their life. His death is a laid in state. and great spirituality.” great loss for the Catholic Church Some spoke about the 69-year- Hubert Sony Ratna, youth leader in Bangladesh.” old bishop who served in two dio- in the Diocese of Khulna, said that a Obaidul Quader, general sec- ceses. Chittagong diocese’s Desk homily by Archbishop Moses Costa retary of the Bangladesh Awami for Migrants and Itinerant People motivated him to become a good League and current Minister of coordinator Probal Deo, spoke Archbishop Moses M Costa (pix inset) passed away on July 13. His funeral Catholic. Road Transport and Bridges, issued was on July 15. (AsiaNews) about the late prelate. “In 2002, I participated in the na- a press release, expressing his deep “Before 2011, the faithful of our “Now people actively participate Moses had exceptional leadership tional youth day in the Diocese of condolences for the death of Arch- diocese were not very active in the in all church activities and know qualities that allowed him to engage Chittagong. On that occasion, the bishop Moses Costa. life of the church. After he became all about these activities. Member- the faithful in the activity of the archbishop gave a homily centred In it, he said that the prelate was bishop, Msgr Moses created 13 ship in the local Church has grown Church. on ‘Salt and light’ from the Bible. a special person who “worked with districts in the diocese and gave re- among Catholics.” “When Archbishop Moses drew He called the young salt and light of people of all faiths. He was respect- sponsibility to the members of each Probal Deo, who twice served up a new work plan, he shared it the world. I still feel this and I per- ed by people of all faith. We pray district, thus attracting faithful to as secretary of the cathedral’s par- with us and asked for our coopera- sonally heard his call. I’m trying to for the eternal peace of his soul.” — the Church. ish council, added that Archbishop tion to implement it. We naturally follow his advice in my life.” By Sumon Corraya AsiaNews UK arms sales to South Korea’s economy Saudi Arabia: illegal, collapses, the Church immoral and deadly UNITED KINGDOM: On July 13, the UK parliament scrutinised the government’s decision to resume close to those who suffer arms sales to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen. This followed an Urgent Question. The decision was announced in a written statement by the Secretary of State for International Trade, Liz Truss. The government concluded that any violations of International Humanitarian Law committed by the Saudi coalition were ‘isolated Open Licence system. The UK’s big- incidents’, despite the fact that hun- gest arms company, BAE Systems, dreds of attacks on residential areas, has made £15 billion in revenue schools, hospitals, civilian gather- from services and sales to Saudi Ara- ings, and agricultural land and facili- bia since 2015. CAAT is considering ties have been documented. all legal options to challenge the gov- In June 2019, the Court of Appeal ernment’s decision. ruled that the Government acted un- Andrew Smith of Campaign lawfully when it licensed the sale of Against Arms Trade said, “We are UK- made arms to Saudi forces for glad that this decision has been scru- use in Yemen without making an as- tinised in parliament, but a decision sessment as to whether or not past in- of this magnitude should not have cidents amounted to breaches of In- needed all the opposition parties to ternational Humanitarian Law. This come together in order to force the followed a case brought by Cam- government to answer questions.” The unemployment rate in South Korea is growing for the fourth consecutive month. Some analysts believe that the paign Against Arms Trade (CAAT). These arms sales are illegal, im- worst is yet to come, and that real data on the economy will hit only in the second half of 2020. (AsiaNews) The Government was ordered not to moral and deadly. The decision to approve any new licences and to re- resume them can only prolong the SEOUL: The unemployment rate but the manufacturing and heavy this problem and is looking for prac- war and increase the bloodshed. The in South Korea is growing for the industry sectors still seem destined tical solutions. No one must be left take the decisions on extant licences in a lawful manner. This ruling did government is always telling us how fourth consecutive month. In June, to slide even further during the sum- behind because of this crisis, but it robust its arms export controls are, as reported by Yonhap, the labour mer. The retail food and tourism is clear that there are real problems not stop arms from being transferred under extant licences. In the after- but nothing could be further from market lost 352 thousand units: it is services sectors are also experienc- for employers as well. However, for- the trust. This brutal bombardment the first time since October 2009 that ing difficulties. South Korea was the getting about these workers would math of the Court ruling, the Gov- ernment admitted multiple breaches is only possible because of the com- a negative streak of this duration has second country in the world, after mean depriving tens of thousands of plicity and support of arms dealing been recorded. China, to register the first cases of families of income and dignity. ” of the ban on new licences. Since the bombing of Yemen be- governments like the UK. The collapse, according to the coronavirus. For this reason, adds the source, “The government says that possi- National Statistics Office, is attrib- Some analysts believe that the “we are studying how we can in- gan in March 2015, the UK has li- censed £5.3 billion worth of arms ble breaches of international law are utable to the global crisis caused worst is yet to come, and that real tervene. Among the proposed solu- ‘isolated incidents’, but there have by the pandemic. The explosion of data on the economy will hit only tions, one of the most convincing to the Saudi regime, including £2.7 billion worth of ML10 licences been hundreds of them. These are COVID-19 has inhibited industrial in the second half of 2020. With re- provides for the creation of refresher not statistics, they are people’s lives. activity and consumer spending: gards to the labour market, the most courses that can somehow give new (Aircraft, helicopters, drones) and £2.5 billion worth of ML4 licences Saudi forces have bombed schools, the quarantine imposed by the au- “at risk” group is that of workers qualifications to workers at risk. We hospitals and homes. They have thorities has emptied the streets and between 40 and 55 years of age: too think it is possible to provide new (Grenades, bombs, missiles, coun- termeasures) turned gatherings into massacres therefore retail. young to retire but considered too tools to these fathers and mothers, and inflicted a humanitarian crisis on In reality the figures are far higher, The government has reacted by old to be hired from scratch after the so that they can recycle themselves Yemen. We are considering all legal guaranteeing massive injections of layoffs of these months. and return to work perhaps with new with most bombs and missiles being licensed via the opaque and secretive options to challenge this appalling liquidity for businesses and banks, The Catholic Church “is aware of perspectives”. — AsiaNews decision.” — ICN 8 World HERALD July 19, 2020 Statues of Mary vandalised in weekend of Catholic church attacks BOSTON: Boston police are investi- police were investigating the van- Florida, reported that deputies were old mission founded by St. Junípero gating an arson attack on a statue of dalisation of a statue of the Virgin called to Queen of Peace Catho- Serra. the Blessed Virgin Mary on the night Mary at Cathedral Prep School and lic Church in Ocala, which was set Gomez called the mission the “his- of July 11, the second attack in the Seminary in Queens. aflame while parishioners inside pre- toric cornerstone and the spiritual US on a statue of the Virgin Mary in Security footage shows an indi- pared for morning Mass. heart of Los Angeles and the Catho- two days, and during the same week- vidual approaching the 100-year-old Stephen Anthony Shields, 24, lic community here.” end in which two Catholic church statue shortly after 3.00am on Fri- was later arrested and charged with Federal and local officials are still fires are being investigated for arson. day morning and daubing the word attempted murder, arson, burglary, investigating the cause of the fire Police were called to reports of a “IDOL” down its length. and evading arrest, after reportedly at the San Gabriel mission, with no fire on Bowdin Street in the Dorches- Fr James Kuroly, rector and presi- admitting to crashing a minivan into determination yet made. On Sunday, ter neighbourhood Boston at around dent of Cathedral Prep, called the in- the church and then setting it on fire. the Los Angeles Times reported that 10.00pm on July 11. cident “an act of hatred.” According to a statement from the agents from the federal Bureau of Al- Local police confirmed that a stat- “Obviously, this tragedy saddens sheriff's office, Shields poured gaso- cohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explo- ue of the Blessed Virgin located out- us deeply but it also renews our hope line in the church’s foyer and ignited sives were investigating the possibil- side the Church of St Peter had been and faith in the Lord as he has shown it, after crashing his minivan through ity that the fire was an arson attack. set on fire and suffered damage. Lo- his goodness in the many people who the parish's front door. Shields then Also this weekend, San Diego cal police and firefighters responded have already reached out to us,” said drove away in the minivan, leading police officials said that a fire at Cal- to reports that an unknown individu- Fr. Kuroly. “We are sincerely grate- officers on a short chase before he vary Baptist church at 12.30 am Sun- al had set fire to plastic flowers in the ful for the help we have received as was stopped. According to local me- day morning was “suspicious” and hands of the statue, causing smoke well as the prayers. Please continue dia, Shields told police he has been was being investigated by the depart- and flame damage to the face, head, praying for those who committed diagnosed with schizophrenia but is ment’s Metro Arson Strike Team. Statue of Mary outside Cathedral and upper body of the statue. Prep School and Seminary, Queens, this act of vandalism and hatred to- not currently taking prescribed medi- Calvary is an historically African The fire at St Peter’s is the latest in New York. (Diocese of Brooklyn) ward Our Lady and the Church.” cation. American church, though its website a series of fires and acts of vandalism In addition to the attacks on the Also on Saturday, a fire ravaged says it has become a “multi-cultural which have struck Catholic churches On July 10, the Diocese of Brook- two statues of Mary, on Saturday the San Gabriel mission in the Arch- faith community” in recent years. — in the last two days. lyn announced that New York City morning sheriffs in Marion County, diocese of Los Angeles, a 249-year- CNA Statue of Virgin Mary beheaded Anti-Catholic attacks merit national media scrutiny at Tennessee parish NEW YORK: National news media Catholic church in Boston, a Cath- TENNESSEE: A statue of the Bless- director of communications for the cannot ignore intolerance against olic school in New York and the ed Virgin Mary was attacked this Diocese of Knoxville. Catholics, the Ancient Order of ongoing investigation of a fire that weekend at a parish in Chattanooga, The statue is about five feet tall and Hibernians has said, citing recent destroyed the historic 249-year-old the third reported incident against a estimated to be worth about $2,000. attacks on Catholic churches and San Gabriel Mission over the same statue of Mary occuring in the same There was no other damage to the vandalism of statues of saints. weekend.” weekend. church, and Wogan said that the stat- The group cited an incident at The Ancient Order of Hibernians “What strange times [we live in],” ute was partly shielded by shrubbery. Queen of Peace Catholic Church was founded in 1836, based on sim- Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville Wogan said he could not think of in Ocala, Florida, where a man ilar groups in Ireland. It is the oldest tweeted on July 13. “Over the week- any reason why St Stephen Catholic crashed a minivan into the church and largest Irish Catholic organisa- end, an outdoor statue of the Blessed church would be targeted by vandals. and then lit it on fire with gasoline tion in the US and claims member- Mother was beheaded at St Stephen “Anytime something like this hap- early on Saturday, July 11 while ship in all 50 states. Parish in Chattanooga.” pens, it's disappointing and it's con- people were inside preparing for The Hibernians’ statement cited On the morning of Saturday, July cerning,” said Wogan. morning Mass. the ancient legal principle “silence “The Hibernians are appalled at implies consent,” criticising the na- 11, Fr. Manuel Perez, pastor of St. He added that there no local con- A statue of the Virgin Mary decapi- Stephen Catholic Church in Chat- troversy around the church and there tated on the grounds of S. Stephen's the conspicuous lack of national tional media for showing “silence tanooga, was walking the church was no known motivation for the at- Catholic church in Chattanooga. news coverage, particularly among on the rising tide of anti-Catholic grounds and preparing for Mass tack, “and that can be almost more (Diocese of Knoxville. ) the national broadcast networks, violence.” when he noticed that the statue of troubling than knowing, sometimes.” seems to be sort of a default setting surrounding this blatant attack. The “The Hibernians ask why such an the Blessed Virgin Mary had been The decapitation of the Blessed for people right now.” absence of national reporting con- outrageous attack targeting Catho- knocked over. Upon further inspec- Mother statue at St Stephen occurred “And I think our bishop and our cerning such an egregious attack lics is less worthy of reporting than tion, he noticed the head of the statue on the same weekend as several oth- pastors would hope that people against a Catholic church is at stark an attack on a house of worship of was nowhere to be found, although er high-profile acts of vandalism at would remember the sort of exam- variance with past coverage of sim- another faith or a public institu- the body and pedestal of the statue Catholic churches across the country, ple that is set in the Gospels — that ilar despicable attacks against other tion. The news media needs to take remained. including the desecration of statues we’re to treat each other as we'd want faiths,” the group said July 13. accountability for its apathy and “Fr Perez said that he looked of the Virgin Mary. to be treated,” he said. “This absence of coverage is par- blatant double standards and the around the church grounds to see if Wogan described the national at- Police investigation into the act, ticularly glaring given that this at- creation of a shameful ‘hierarchy he could find the missing head but he mosphere as a “very chaotic time and the possibility that it was a hate tack is only the latest in a wave of of outrage’ in which hate targeting couldn't locate it,” said Jim Wogan, in our history,” and said that “anger crime, is ongoing. — CNA wanton destruction targeting Cath- Catholics is not ‘newsworthy’,” the olics including the vandalism of a group said. —CNA Man arrested on assault charges after incident at St Louis statue ST LOUIS: A man in St Louis has fear.” hate” and “is not a symbol of our city been charged with four counts of The incident took place June 27 in 2020.” fourth-degree assault after police say near the Apotheosis of St Louis Catholics defending the statue he threw punches at people praying statue, which sits in the city’s For- at the protest prayed the rosary and to and defending a statue of St Louis est Park in front of the Saint Louis sang, and several police officers sep- during a recent protest. Art Museum. It was erected in 1906 arated them from the protesters. Terrence Page, 34, admitted that and depicts Louis IX of France, for Videos posted online appear to he threw the punches, saying, “Real whom the city is named. show Page confronting counter-pro- change doesn’t happen unless you In recent weeks, some protestors testors, growing agitated, and punch- take those risks.” have called for the removal of the ing at least one person in the head re- He said he thought there were statue, as well as the renaming of the peatedly. Police say there were four KKK members defending the statue, city. On June 27, some 200 people victims of the assault. One of the and argued that “their presence alone surrounded the statue in protest. One individuals was later diagnosed with Queen of Peace Catholic Church after a fire July 11. (Marion County Sheriff’s is terrorism, because they install organiser said the statue “represents a concussion. — CNA Office) HERALD July 19, 2020 World 9 Pope, US Bishops ‘saddened’ by Turkish court ruling on Hagia Sophia VATICAN: Pope Francis said he was sad- the Turkish president to reverse his decision dened when a Turkish court ruled to revert the “in the interest of promoting mutual under- iconic Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque. standing, respect, dialogue and cooperation US Bishops echoes his statement and urged and avoiding cultivating old animosities and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “to divisions.” reverse this unnecessary and painful decision The decision was strongly condemned by and restore Hagia Sophia as a place of prayer Archbishop Elpidophoros of the New York- and reflection for all peoples.” based Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Ameri- While commemorating the International ca, who called the decision “the worst example Day of the Sea during his Sunday Angelus ad- of religious chauvinism.” dress July 12, Pope Francis told pilgrims in St “By shuttering Hagia Sophia as a monument, Peter’s Square that “the sea carries me a little Turkey has shut the window that (Mustafa Ke- farther away in my thoughts: to Istanbul.” mal) Ataturk opened to the world,” he tweeted “I think of Hagia Sophia, and I am very sad- on July 10. dened,” he said. Turkish police officers walk in front of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul July 11, 2020. (CNSphoto/ The cathedral, founded by Emperor Justin- Erdogan issued a decree to hand over con- Murad Sezer, Reuters) ian I on the site of two earlier churches, was trol of Hagia Sophia to the country’s Directo- great artistic and spiritual treasures. For many against Islam.” the world’s largest at its dedication in 537. rate of Religious Affairs after Turkey’s highest years now, this beautiful and cherished site has It is “absurd and harmful that Hagia Sophia, Hagia Sophia remained a cathedral for the court revoked its status as a museum July 10. served as a museum where people of all faiths from a place that now allows the two peoples Byzantine Empire until 1453, after which it In a video message after the court ruling, can come to experience the sublime presence to meet and admire its greatness, can again be- served as a mosque following the Ottoman Erdogan said Hagia Sophia will remain “open of God. It has also stood as a sign of good will come a reason for contrast and confrontation,” capture of Constantinople, today’s Istanbul, to all locals, foreigners, Muslims and non- and peaceful coexistence between Christians he said, according to Fides news agency. for nearly five centuries. Muslims.” and Muslims and an expression of humanity’s Echoing the patriarch’s words, Ioan Sauca, Under Ataturk, the founder of modern Tur- On July 14, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of longings for unity and love.” interim general secretary of the World Coun- key, it then became a museum in 1935. It was Los Angeles, president of the US Conference Other world and religious leaders, including cil of Churches, expressed his concern that declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO of Catholic Bishops, and Bishop Joseph C. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Con- the decision will “inevitably create uncertain- in 1985. Bambera of Scranton, Pennsylvania, chairman stantinople, criticized the ruling. His Orthodox ties, suspicions and mistrust, undermining all Audrey Azoulay, director general of UNE- of the USCCB’s Committee on Ecumenical patriarchate is based in Istanbul. our efforts to bring people of different faiths SCO, issued a statement on July 10 saying the and Interreligious Affairs, said in a statement: In a homily during a June 30 divine liturgy, together at the table of dialogue and coopera- decision was “regrettable” and “made without “Since its foundation as a Christian cathedral in the patriarch warned that the decision “will tion.” any form of dialogue or prior notice.” — By 537, Hagia Sophia has been one of the world’s push millions of Christians around the world In a July 11 letter to Erdogan, Sauca urged Junno Arocho Esteves, CNS German archdiocese plans to As thousands protest against cut parishes from 1,000 to 40 Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Christian BERLIN: A German archdiocese is press- ing ahead with plans to dramatically reduce leader sees a new movement emerging the number of its parishes despite the Vati- JERUSALEM: The wave of protests in Israel many years of sleep, of lethargy. They include can’s decision to block a similar plan in an- against the government and Prime Minister military, intellectuals, activists and citizens other diocese. Benjamin Netanyahu continues. Some 50 peo- who openly challenge the prime minister, start- CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German language ple were arrested following clashes between ing with the charges of corruption.” news partner, reported on July 15 that thousands of protesters and the police. For the Christian leader, Netanyahu “is mis- Archbishop Stephan Burger intends to turn The government has come in for serious crit- managing the coronavirus emergency” and the archdiocese’s 1,000 parishes into 40 icism over its poor handling of the coronavirus has made mistakes “at the economic level, mega parishes. pandemic, amid a surge in new cases (less seri- presenting two or three projects, including tax In a July 14 letter to archdiocesan staff, ous according to scientists), and the economic exemptions for the rich, many of whom are Burger described the proposal as an “ade- crisis, whilst the prime minister is seen as un- his associates. This has led to dissatisfaction.” quate response to the challenges facing our fit for office because of fraud and corruption This, coupled with allegations of corruption, archdiocese.” charges which he must answer in court. has generated “a wave of protests that seem to He said: “At the moment, I see no reason Sobhy Makhoul, a member of the Maronite grow” day by day. to make any changes to the objectives and Church in Jerusalem and administrator of the For Sobhy Makhoul, unlike in the past, the main features of the project.” Christian Media Center, notes that Israel “is ex- “these protests will have a future” also because The Archdiocese of Freiburg, which has periencing the birth of a new movement”. the pandemic has angered people, raised ten- almost 1,000 priests and serves 1.8 million We are witnessing “limited centre and left- sions and worsened the problems, starting with Catholics, is located in the state of Baden- Archbishop Stephan Burger of Freiburg. of-centre political actions which have not been the economy “where Netanyahu has done little (Archdiocese of Freiburg) Advertisement for HERALD Württemberg in southwest Germany. Ac- seen for some time: an awakeningSize: after3 col so– 13 cmfor ordinaryx 8 cm (H) people”. — AsiaNews cording to official statistics published the future parishes and the speed of imple- in June, 22,287 people formally left the mentation.” Church in the archdiocese in 2019. Trier diocese is now working on a new The reorganisation project, known as plan to address the Vatican’s objections. Cambridge A-Levels July 2020 “Church Development 2030,” is currently The official website of “Church -Devel being discussed in deaneries. Their feed- opment 2030” argued that the Vatican’s back will result in a second draft. After fur- concerns did not apply to the program for ther discussion, a final decision will be tak- Freiburg archdiocese. en on the program by the end of the year. “For the archdiocese, this decision of the The Vatican intervened last month to stop Congregation for the Clergy currently has the Diocese of Trier, located in the west no consequences. According to canon 515 of Germany near the border with Luxem- §2 it is ‘the diocesan bishop alone’ who can bourg, from merging its 887 parishes into establish, abolish or change parishes; pro- 35 larger parishes, following a three-year vided due process is adhered to,” it said. diocesan synod. “Despite the present suspension of the Enjoy up to 100% discount on tuition fee The diocese said that two Vatican de- implementation of the decisions of the Enquire & Enrol Now! partments — the Congregation for Clergy Trier synodal assembly, we believe that and the Pontifical Council for Legislative neither the Congregation for the Clergy nor Texts — had raised concerns about “the the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts STELLA MARIS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, DAMANSARA role of the pastor in the leadership team of will restrict this fundamental right of the Email: [email protected] Tel: +603 2083 0025 / +6017 727 0025 the parish, the service of other priests, the bishop to exercise his pastoral ministry.” @stellamarispreuniversity make-up of the parish bodies, the size of — CNA Stella Maris Schools, Malaysia 10 Editorial HERALD July 19, 2020 HERALD Deadline looms July 19, 2020 Felling statues raises for Vatican-China deeper questions he most evident aspect of burning, decapitating or drown- Ting statues is that it is an expression of enthusiasm, and is enormously enjoyable for those who take part in it. It is a deal renewal symbol of radical change, and channels anger at a resented past into joy at the inauguration of a new age. fficials of the Vatican and Communist-ruled China are Lack of reported talks since last November may see extension of 2018 Images of the Russian Revolution and of the collapse of accord pushed back to the end of the year the Soviet Empire alike are full of defaced paintings and the Ojust two months away from dethroning of statues of rulers. Unfortunately, common to all the end of the two-year-long deal they such events, is the subsequent realisation that with the com- signed in September 2018 on bishops’ ing of a new world, life does not automatically change for appointments in China. Yet, they have the better. reportedly not met since last Novem- The larger questions posed by the destruction of the stat- ber. ues, and indeed of reputations that they symbolise, concern This makes their planned meeting how to handle complexity. in Rome later this month of exquisite First, historical complexity. Statues destroyed are almost importance. Despite chronic delays always of a past age when commonly shared attitudes to soci- brought on by the COVID-19 pan- ety and to human aspirations differed from those of our own. demic, a meeting is expected. Will Those past attitudes and the economic and political structures they agree on an extension of the in which they were embodied, however, have helped shape original deal, or will they work for a our own world and so are inherited both by those who call new agreement, delayed beyond the for something radically new and by those opposed to change. September deadline? Of their nature, statues of the past confront us with com- There is no denying this will be a plexity and ambiguity. Knocking their heads off does not landmark deal. make a society more simple, though it may lead to desired It is the first official relationship -be change by forcing us to ask whether the attitudes and actions tween the world’s most populous na- Flags of China and Vatican City. Credit: FreshStock on Shutterstock.. The Vatican- of our ancestors were morally defensible as well as under- tion and the world’s largest Christian China deal is ends in September. The planned meeting later this month is crucial in standable. Asking that question of the past is awkward be- Church, the world’s only religious deciding what’s next. (Photo: AFP) cause it pushes us inescapably to ask it also of our own ac- group to have sovereign status. It also tions, attitudes and inheritance. marks the revival of ties that the Vati- Vatican than hundreds of other accu- only five so-called underground bish- Second, the question of human complexity. Statues rep- can cut with Mao Zedong’s Chinese mulated diplomatic initiatives. ops have been brought into the CCP resent, even in their idealised shape, real people marked by Communist Party in 1951. Yet, by allowing critics to speak, run Chinese Catholic Patriotic Asso- a mixture of good and bad desires, of good and evil actions, The deal is the culmination of work Francis provides China with an object ciation, which has been driven to de- of light and darkness, strength and weakness, and of igno- by three popes, beginning with St lesson in free speech and demonstated facto recognition by the deal. rance and knowledge. In public life they will inevitably have John Paul II, and is the centrepiece of the fact that people near the top of an Perhaps the deal document names endorsed or acquiesced in actions that harmed groups in so- Pope Francis’ promise of a focus on organisation or country (the Vatican is more association members, but we do ciety. Details of their private lives and relationships, once Asia during his papacy. both) can have respectful differences not know, as the details of the deal re- concealed, may also now be known. This fuller knowledge The symbolism of a Jesuit pope while still all believing in their joint main secret. forces us to ask whether we accept our own complexity and striking this deal more than five cen- cause. And most, if not all, of that syncre- ambiguity or reject them. turies after the prominent Jesuit mis- It’s better to let dissent have its tism, as well as deals about prelates, Third, the question of social complexity. Each statue sionary Matteo Ricci became a regu- voice than to fester away under a was agreed ahead of the 2018 deal. and memorial embodies a network of relationships to other lar at the Chinese imperial court could cloak of silence, a sure-fire recipe for Whatever the case, at least 21 un- people, to groups in society, to hierarchies and to historical not be underestimated. real division and potentially perma- derground bishops reportedly contin- events. Together they form an image of a society rich in its But there has been as much well- nent damage. ue to be outside the CCPA. As well, complexity and its tensions, marked by what it omits as well documented criticism of the deal as Cardinals Zen and Bo, and other there are at least two prelates in jail, as by what it includes. They ask us whether we want a so- excitement. dissenters, are also able to speak up and Shanghai Bishop Thaddeus Ma ciety in which groups with different attitudes and histories It’s particularly telling that two for the people that Francis — one Daqin remains under a form of house coexist, with all the tensions that this involves, or whether of the main critics have been Asian can only imagine his great chagrin arrest. we will exclude and write out of our history many of those cardinals – Cardinal Joseph Zen Ke- — cannot champion while in delicate Besides, there has been only glacial relationships. kiun, former Hong Kong Bishop negotiations with a paranoid, authori- movement from underground priests If we wish to preserve complexity, we must then deal with and increasingly outspoken Cardinal tarian state. joining the CCPA. It is clergy, not the exclusions evident in the memorials left by our ancestors. Charles Maung Bo, Myanmar’s first These include the people of Hong regular Catholics, who join the or- It is often claimed that the destruction is alien to our culture, cardinal and the current president of Kong, the Muslim Uighurs of Xinji- ganisation. a return to barbarism. In fact, it is a recurrent theme in many the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Con- ang state — who have been incarcer- The biggest stumbling block here is cultures. It goes back to the exclusive claim made for the ferences. ated in shocking numbers (1 million likely the need for written approval by God of Israel as being beyond imaging, and so excluding im- Both have expressed almost viscer- or more according to Amnesty Inter- Beijing for priests to join the CCPA as ages of other Gods. al loathing of the CCP – importantly, national and others) – and last but cer- well as “a pledge of loyalty and obedi- In the Medieval West, images were multiplied and human- the ruling authoritarians rather than tainly not least, Christians and others, ence to the party leadership,” accord- ised, so that Churches brought together heaven and earth the Chinese people. who are being repressed by Beijing’s ing to the South China Morning Post. through the images of Christ, Mary, angels, saints and mem- One has to think it’s no coincidence hard strike on religious programmes Beijing could well pull a few bish- bers of the congregation, both saints and sinners. that Cardinal Bo has so strongly under Chinese president Xi Jinping. ops out of its hat as it has at key times Images then became secular, and statues represented citi- backed his Salesian counterpart Car- While the systematic multi-pronged – near the one-year anniversary of the zens and churchmen responsible for building a good society. dinal Zen in recent months. campaign of repression by Beijing deal last year, near the imposition of They symbolised and protected the values and ideals of soci- He was at it again as he expressed would certainly be worrying Rome, it tough new restrictions on religion in ety. When society was seen as corrupt, however, the symbols support for the people of Hong Kong is hardly new. The Holy See’s diplo- January, and just last month during also came under attack, as in the French and Russian revolu- after Beijing imposed strict new Na- mats went into the deal with their eyes the international diplomatic slanging tions and in the overthrow of the Soviet Empire. tional Security Legislation that was at least part open (just how open will match over the National Security Law — Fr Andrew Hamilton, SJ, Eureka Street announced and implemented inside forever be a matter of conjecture). in Hong Kong. six weeks. More concerning is, the fact that de- But even this would not be enough HERALD — The Catholic Weekly Rather than see the two prelates as spite the Vatican’s swallowing of its to stop the feeling that a two-month Jointly published by the outliers — and there are plenty of oth- reservations of these and other issues, process would be seen by many as Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, er more conservative non-Asian crit- Beijing has hardly shown any alacrity rushed. Diocese of Malacca Johore, Diocese of ics of the deal in the upper echelons of in wanting to fulfil its part of the im- It would be better from the Vati- Penang and Diocese of Keningau the Church, Pope Francis allows their plicit bargain between the two sides. can’s point of view to extend the two- Editor: Fr Lawrence Andrew, SJ voices to be heard, and that is a smart Francis agreed to lift the ex-com- year temporary agreement for a few HERALD, 5, Jalan Robertson, 50150, KL strategy on several levels. munication on seven living and one months, at least to the end of the year, Tel: 03-20268290/20268291; Indeed, a more dogmatic and less dead bishop, who had been appointed while proper negotiations are held for Fax: 03-20268293 confident pope may have decided to without the mandatory papal approv- such an important and controversial Online: www.heraldmalaysia.com. E-mail: [email protected] shut down internal critics of a deal al. deal. — By Michael Sainsbury, that has brought more attention to the However, since September 2018, ucanews.com HERALD July 19, 2020 Focus 11 The Roman Curia is being reformed as Cardinals retire t is perhaps the most ambitious project then-rather inconspicuous Sarah to Rome in of the current pontificate: attempting to 2001 to be the No. 2 (archbishop-secretary) Itruly reform the mentality and structures at Propaganda Fide. of the Catholic Church’s central – and, up Once Benedict XVI promoted him and until Francis arrived, centralising– bureau- gave him the red hat in 2010, the cardinal cracy known as the Roman Curia. increasingly became one of the Vatican’s Exactly one month after his election in leading traditionalists and social conserva- March 2013, the Argentine pope established tives. the “Council of Cardinals”. Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, a Made up of nine senior churchman from 76-year-old Argentine who spent different parts of the world, the members his whole ecclesiastical career in of this C-9 were given the task of helping service of the Holy See, will be Francis in his governance of the Universal replaced at the Congregation for Church. Eastern Churches. They were also given the very specific A key figure in John Paul II’s pontificate, project of drawing up a plan to reform the he has been in his current job since 2007. curia by revising the apostolic constitution But Sandri will be staying in Rome since he Pastor Bonus, which currently regulates was recently elected vice-dean of the Col- this Vatican structure. lege of Cardinals. A draft of the new constitution was com- The Congregation for Catholic Education pleted over a year ago, but the Pope wanted will be getting a new prefect, too. to give national episcopal conferences, se- The present office-holder, Italian Cardi- lect heads of religious orders and certain nal Giuseppe Versaldi, has already com- theologians the opportunity to offer more Top officials of the Roman Curia pray March 1, 2020, at the beginning of their annual Lenten retreat pleted his quinquennium and will be 77 at suggestions. at the Pauline Fathers' retreat house in Ariccia, southeast of Rome. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) the end of this month. After spending five Early in the year there was talk that the sual. The middle of the Roman summer is Pope Francis will name a new prefect at years as a diocesan bishop in northern Italy, final document would be released on the not usually the time for launching major the Congregation for Bishops to he came to the Vatican in 2011, during Ben- Feast of the Chair of St Peter in February Vatican documents or important events. But replace Cardinal Marc Ouellet. edict XVI’s pontificate. or, at latest, the Feast of Saints Peter and this is not an ordinary pontificate. The 76-year-old Ratzinger pro- Pope Francis will also have to replace Paul at the end of June. No matter when the new text is unveiled, tégé has held this extremely im- Cardinal Beniamino Stella, who has been the ramifications will be manifold and, like- portant post the past ten years. prefect at the Congregation for the Clergy ly, historic. One of the consequences of the French- since the beginning of the pontificate. A na- Praedicate Evangelium has already tive of Italy’s Veneto region, the life-long been signed One of the first and most visible of these Canadian's retirement is that it will signifi- will be a massive personnel shake-up. cantly diminish his prospects for candidacy Vatican diplomat with extensive experience But then the pandemic hit and the remnant in Latin America, turns 79 in August. of the C-9, now reduced to just six cardinal- It will take months and even years to im- in a future conclave. plement the changes the new constitution In the post-Vatican II era, when it became The No 2 official in Cardinal Stella’s of- members, cancelled its last three meetings. fice, Archbishop Joel Mercier, is also likely So is the project on hold? Not according mandates, and Francis will have to find normal for bishops to retire at or shortly af- people who are trustworthy and on the same ter 75 years of age, all the men who have to be replaced. The Frenchman turned 75 at to a source at the Vatican who claimed the the beginning of the year, just a few days new constitution, Praedicate Evangelium, page as him to oversee the implementation been elected pope were still in office at the of the constitution. time of the conclave. before completing his five-year term as the is done and Pope Francis has already signed congregation’s secretary. it. Francis will also be replacing Guinean New Cardinals Prefects to be named Cardinal Robert Sarah, 75, who The Pope is also expected to accept the It appears the text is currently being care- resignation of the secretary of the Congre- The reformed Roman Curia will require has exceeded his five-year term fully translated into all major languages. gation for the Causes of Saints. Archbishop new leadership, as more than two-dozen as head of the Congregation for Once that is done, it will be officially pub- Marcello Bartolucci has been in that job a Rome-based cardinals are sent into retire- Divine Worship and Discipline lished. bit more than ten years. And the Assisi na- ment. of the Sacraments. John Paul II brought the Naturally, this would be extremely unu- tive recently turned 76 years of age. Vatican administration to be replaced ope Francis will have to find new man- who moved from Milan in 2007 to take up Rylko spent his entire Roman career at the the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Pagement for Vatican City State, as well. this Vatican post, turns 77 in October. now-defunct Pontifical Council for the La- Peoples (Propaganda Fide). The current “governor” is Cardinal Gi- And Cardinal Angelo Comastri, an Ital- ity, eventually reigning as president from The congregation is also going to be useppe Bertello, a career papal diplomat ian who became Archpriest of St Peter’s 2003-2016. transformed, and the Pope has recently who has been in the post since 2011 and is Basilica just a couple of months before That’s the office responsible for approv- brought the 63-year-old Filipino Cardinal just three months shy of his 78th birthday. John Paul II's death in 2005, will be 76 in ing the new ecclesial movements John Paul Luis Tagle to Rome to head up that new en- And the secretary general (since 2013) September. so favoured. It would be unusual for Fran- terprise. is Archbishop Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, Bishop Brian Farrell, who has done out- cis to remove him from his largely ceremo- And, naturally, the Council of Cardinals a 75-year-old Spaniard and Legionary of standing work since 2002 as secretary at the nial post at St Mary Major, but — again — – the body that has helped Francis draw up Christ. Both Bertello and Vérgez will be Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian he is not your usual pope. the curial reform – will also have to be re- replaced. Unity, is already 76 years old. If Francis is The other man in red who is already be- plenished. Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, one of Ben- thinking of totally revamping the Roman yond retirement age is Cardinal Luis La- It’s possible that some of them are not edict’s oldest and staunchest Vatican allies, Curia, it is likely he will accept the Legion- daria, currently prefect of the Congregation even cardinals yet. But they could be get- will also be relieved of his duties. A priest ary of Christ’s resignation. for the Doctrine of the Faith. ting the red hat sooner than anyone could from Genoa in the mold of the late con- And while the president of this pontifical The Spanish Jesuit turned 76 last April, have imagined. servative Cardinal Giuseppe Siri, Piacenza council, Cardinal Kurt Koch, is only 70, the but he’s been head of the “Holy Office” The word is that the Vatican recently or- is currently head of the Apostolic Peniten- German-speaking Swiss prelate has been for only three years. Francis seems to trust dered 15 rings to be made for an upcoming tiary. in this job since 2010. Look for him to be him, but does he have enough confidence consistory. Again, it would be highly unu- Francis put him there soon after becom- moved or given early retirement. that Ladaria is the right man to implement sual, especially at a time when even church- ing pope in 2013, removing the Italian from There are a couple of other cardinals who the reform that the doctrinal office will be goers have to respect social distancing and his post as prefect of the Congregation for have already reached retirement age and slated to undergo? wear facemasks. Clergy just three years into a five-year term. whose future is not certain. The fate of Archbishop Rino Fisichella is But there is no Church canon that says the Other top officials who are 75 years of Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, Archpriest still unknown. red hat ceremonies must be the elaborate age or older and who are going to be re- of the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, The 69-year-old Italian theologian has galas that they’ve turned into over the years. placed or simply retired once the new con- turned 75 on July 4. A priest from Krakow, been president of the Pontifical Council for Making new cardinals in a small, more stitution on the Roman Curia is published he was brought to the Vatican in 1987 by the New Evangelisation since 2010 when sober setting, at a time one least expects? include Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, presi- the man who ordained him presbyter, John Benedict XVI created the office. Unusual, yes. But not beyond Pope Fran- dent of the Pontifical Council for Culture. Paul II. But Francis is shutting it down and fold- cis. — By Robert Mickens, LCI (https:// The popular Italian scripture scholar, As part of the so-called “Polish Mafia”, ing its work into what is currently called international.la-croix.com) 12 Varia HERALD July 19, 2020 Some secrets worth knowing

onks have secrets worth and thrive in that situation? to retreat. once a week. Set one day apart knowing, and these can 1. Create a routine. That’s 5. Have a contemplative for enjoyment, one day when Mbe invaluable when a the key. It’s what monks do. practice each day that you may eat pancakes for coronavirus pandemic is forcing Create as detailed a routine for includes prayer. On the breakfast in your pajamas. millions of us to live like monks. the hours of your day as you schedule you create for 8. Challenge yourself with Because of the COVID-19 would a financial budget. Make yourself, mark in at least a half something new. Stretch pandemic, millions of us have this very practical: list the hour or an hour each day for yourself by trying something been forced to stay at home, things you need to do each day some contemplative practice: new. Learn a new language, work from home, practice social and slot them into a concrete pray, read scripture, read from take up a new hobby, learn distancing from everyone except timetable and then stick to that a serious book, journal, paint a to play an instrument. This is those in our own houses and have as a discipline, even when it picture, paint a fence, create an an opportunity you’ve never minimal social contact with the seems rigid and oppressive. artifact, fix something, garden, had. outside. In a manner of speaking, Resist the temptation to write poetry, write a song, 9. Talk through the tensions this has turned many of us into simply go with the flow of begin a memoir, write a long that arise within your monks, like it or not. What’s the your energy and mood or to Fr Ron Rolheiser letter to someone you haven’t house – though carefully. secret to thriving there? lean on entertainment and seen for years, whatever; but Tensions will arise when Well, I’m not a monk, nor a others and their hurts and whatever distractions can be do some something that’s living in a fishbowl. Monks mental health expert, so what I frustrations. You’re not in this found to get you through your freeing for your soul and have have community meetings to share here isn’t exactly the rule alone; the others are enduring days and nights. it include some prayer. sort out those tensions. Talk of St Benedict or a series of exactly what you are. Nothing 2. Wash and dress your body 6. Practice “Sabbath” daily. tensions through honestly professional mental health tips. will make your day harder to each day as if you were going Sabbath need not be a day; it with each other, but carefully; It’s the fruit of what I’ve learned endure than excessive self- out into the world and meeting can be an hour. Give yourself hurtful remarks sometimes from monks and from living in focus and self-pity. people. Resist the temptation something very particular never quite heal. the give-and-take of a religious to cheat on hygiene, dress, 4. Find a place to be alone to look forward to each day, community for fifty years. 10. Take care of your body. and make-up. Don’t spend for some time every day something enjoyable and Here are ten counsels for We aren’t disembodied spirits. the morning in your pajamas: and offer others that same sensual: a hot bath, a glass of living when we are, in effect, Be attentive to your body. Get wash and dress up. When courtesy. Don’t apologise that wine, a cigar on the patio, a housebound, that is, living in a enough exercise each day to you don’t do this, what are you need time away, to be by rerun of a favorite old sitcom, situation wherein we don’t have keep your body energized. you saying to your family? yourself. That’s an imperative a nap in the shade in a lawn a lot of privacy, have to do a lot of Be careful not to use food They aren’t worth the effort? for mental health, not a selfish chair, anything – as long as living within a very small circle, as a compensation for your And what are you saying to claim. Give others that space it’s done purely for enjoyment. face long hours wherein we have enforced monasticism. Monks yourself? I’m not worth the too. Sometimes you need to Make this a discipline. to struggle to find things that are careful about their diet – effort? Slovenliness invariably be apart, not just for your own energise us, and find ourselves 7. Practice “Sabbath” weekly. except on feast days. leads to lethargy and acedia. sake but for the sake of the for good stretches of time others. Monks live an intense Make sure that only six days of Monks do have secrets frustrated, bored, impatient, and 3. Look beyond yourself and community life, but each also the week are locked into your worth knowing! — By Fr Ron lethargic. How does one survive your needs each day to see has a private cell within which set routine. Break the routine Rolheiser, all rights reserved Survey of bishops reveals how pandemic has shaken diocesan, parish life CLEVELAND: Nearly every bishop respond- of diocesan bishops responded and about 50 ing to a survey said the coronavirus pandemic per cent of eparchial bishops responded, the has seriously affected the celebration of the report’s authors said. sacraments and rites as well as sacramental CARA officials said the results of the sur- preparation programs in their dioceses. vey were likely affected by whether a bishop Confirmations, First Communions, the Rite responded while his diocese or eparchy was of Christian Initiation of Adults and other in total lockdown or as restrictions began to sacramental preparations were the ministries be lifted. most often cited by the bishops as being af- When it came to specific sacraments, 99 per fected, according to the survey conducted by cent of bishops said Confirmation had been the Center for Applied Research in the Apos- very much or somewhat affected; 99 per cent tolate at Georgetown University. said that about First Communion; 92 per cent, In addition, six out of ten bishops said about the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults that since March, when restrictions on min- process; and 94 per cent, about other sacra- istry and Mass attendance were put in place, mental preparation programmes. the morale of priests, lay ecclesial ministers, Similar numbers of respondents said the Young people wait to go to confession outside St Anthony's Catholic Church in North Beach, Md., deacons and chancery staff has been at least celebration of marriages (98 per cent), bap- April 1, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. (Bob Roller/CNS.) somewhat affected, according to the findings tisms (91 per cent) and funerals (93 per cent) don’t know what the long-term effects will be their parish during closures, and how parishes released July 9. also had been at least somewhat affected. on dioceses and parishes,” he added. could reopen for public Masses and reception Titled Ministry in the Midst of Pandemic, In addition, the survey found the morale of A similar survey of parish pastors by CARA of the sacraments. the survey asked bishops about six areas of church staff members had been very much or researchers is underway, Wiggins added. Responding bishops said they instructed concern that have arisen in dioceses since the somewhat affected. Sixty percent of bishops The survey of bishops offered them the op- parishes to follow state guidelines when pub- pandemic caused public Masses to be sus- said their morale had been affected. Higher portunity to provide brief written answers to lic Masses resumed and stressed the impor- pended and the celebration of sacraments to numbers of respondents said the morale of questions about pastoral provisions they may tance of practicing social distancing and cel- be restricted or postponed. lay ecclesial ministers (71 per cent), priests have implemented, such as the dispensation ebrating Mass in open spaces such as parking The questions focused on the pandemic’s (68 per cent), chancery staff (67 per cent) and from attending weekly Mass, instructions on lots. effect on dioceses; special pastoral provisions deacons (62 per cent) had been affected. the celebration of the sacraments such as bap- Regarding finances, bishops said they were issued by dioceses; financial concerns raised Meanwhile, 54 per cent of bishops said the tism and marriage, and directives to comply concerned that the loss of income from Sun- by the pandemic; actions to address dioceses’ ability of Catholic Charities to serve people in with state and local government orders. day collections would have a devastating im- financial health; the pandemic’s effect on par- need had been impacted as well. Those responses were not quantified in the pact on parishes. They also said they worried ish assessments; and diocesan technological “What really strikes me is that this is so CARA report. But it included comments from about the effect of increased unemployment assistance to schools and parishes. much a work in progress because parishes bishops describing the steps they took as the on parishioners and the impact on family life. CARA staff members mailed the survey to are not back up to any kind of normalcy in pandemic led to massive church, school and With the revenue losses, some bishops said bishops in 177 archdioceses and dioceses and terms of Mass attendance, sacraments, giving business lockdowns in March and then eased that parish and diocesan staff may have to be 20 eparchies May 18 and followed up with a or anything that would characterize regular in May and June. reduced. mailing June 8 to those who did not respond. Catholic life,” said Jonathan Wiggins, direc- Some bishops said they offered updates To help parishes manage their finances, dio- Overall, 116 bishops, 59 per cent, responded tor of parish surveys at CARA. as often as weekly with regard to liturgies, ceses have offered assistance in a variety of by the release of the report. About 60 per cent “This is just a couple months in and we finances, how parishioners can contribute to ways. — By Dennis Sadowski, CNS HERALD July 19, 2020 13 The problems with papal politicking he bishop of the Big Apple, Cardinal Timo- Michael Sean Winters, in his review, found it paid for the books? Did anyone stop to think vember’s upcoming presidential election. Tthy Dolan, is under fire again, this time for lacking, not only because of the author’s “con- how this might be perceived? Or did they not Admittedly, Weigel’s book is not as blatant as appearing to meddle in the process of selecting descending attitude” and “passive-aggressive care? another tome with the same title but subheaded a papal successor. News flash: The current pope attacks on Francis,” but because its “textbook Response to NCR’s exclusive news story on The Leading Cardinal Candidates. In that The is currently alive and, as far as we know, healthy articulations of neoconservative principles” of- July 14 was explosive, with many Catholics Next Pope, author Edward Pentin profiles 19 and not considering stepping down. fered such a “crimped” view of the papacy. understandably upset that a cardinal elector papabile — or at least 19 that Pentin and other Yet at least four cardinals around the world One of Weigel’s insights, according to the seemed to be lobbying for a particular type of right-wing Catholics would like to see. That told NCR Vatican correspondent, Joshua McEl- publisher’s description of the book, is that the candidate for the next pope — in direct contra- book seems to be in the spirit of, if not directly wee, that they had received copies of a book that Second Vatican Council will not be personally diction to an apostolic constitution signed by related to, the “Red Hat Report,” which encour- tries to shape what the book’s own publisher influential to Francis’ successor, who may have Pope John Paul II that expressly forbids cardi- ages freelance researchers to “audit” cardinals in calls “a transition of great consequence.” only been a child in the early 1960s. “Thus the nals from discussing possible papal successors. advance of the next conclave. The copies of The Next Pope: The Office next pope will not have been shaped by the ex- And doesn’t the cardinal archbishop of New In today’s communication-saturated age, it of Peter and a Church in Mission by George perience of the Council and the immediate de- York have enough on his plate, what with mas- may be impossible to expect no conversation Weigel were accompanied by a June 9 letter bates over its meaning and reception like Pope sive school closures, other budget cuts and the whatsoever about future leaders in the church. from Dolan on archdiocesan letterhead in which John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope continued challenges of the coronavirus? But I think St John Paul could not have imag- he tells his brother cardinals: “I am grateful to Francis.” But Dolan, who seems to see himself as the ined that his biographer and one of his bishop Ignatius Press for making this important reflec- I can picture the marketing folks at Ignatius consummate politician, apparently couldn’t appointees would do something so crass as to tion on the future of the Church available to the coming up with the brilliant idea to send the help himself. Like many Catholics on the right, send a clearly politicking book to all the elec- College of Cardinals.” book to all 222 of the world’s cardinals. Or was he may have confused the Church’s next con- tors. — By Heidi Schlumpf, NCR I have not yet read Weigel’s book, but NCR’s it Dolan’s idea? And, more importantly, who clave — whenever it may be — with this No- l Heidi Schlumpf is executive editor of NCR. George Weigel imagines the next pope n his new book The Next Pope, George judgment and salvation. And the cross also trine of the Faith and is hardly an instance of Weigel seeks to create a profile of the next stands over against a world of massive greed what Weigel would call Catholic Lite, issued a Ipope. The profile he establishes can be eas- and exploitation of peoples. The cross is ulti- lengthy study in 2018 calling for “the renewal ily summarised: “not Pope Francis.” The book mately the source of Christian solidarity with of the synodal life of the church.” The study is a hardly subtle critique of the present bishop those who are most vulnerable and leads not showed how deeply rooted synodality is in the of Rome. In a brief 133 pages I counted at least only to works of charity but also to the church’s history and theological tradition of the church. 62 times when he used the verb “must” in re- social doctrine for transforming unjust social Weigel is concerned about those who co-opt gard to what the next pope should do. structures. St. John Paul II was quite critical the papacy for their own agendas. Specific ex- Weigel bases his book on extended conver- of those who by silence become complicit in amples from recent decades would have been sations with St John Paul II, Pope Emeritus systemic injustice. The next pope, I would say, helpful. He is critical of the fixation on the pa- Benedict XVI and Pope Francis as well as on must continue the development of Catholic so- pacy in the minds and imaginations of many “many years of interaction with Catholics on cial doctrine, which goes back to Leo XIII. Catholics. He might have named those who every continent, living all stations of life in the Weigel maintains that the church is dying in have contributed to that over the years. Church.” He occasionally refers to the Second countries where the fullness of Catholic moral I confess to being a regular reader of Weigel’s Vatican Council, whose documents, I should teaching is not being upheld. In fact, the bish- syndicated column, not because I share his think, might shed light on desirable qualities ops of the United States have been strong in perspective but because his writing gives me for a modern pope. Those of us who have not their defence of life from conception to natu- a window into the mindset of some Catholics met with multiple pontiffs must rely on the out- ral death and the sanctity of marriage. Yet the who see mostly doom and little light in the put of Vatican II, the papal magisterium since pews continue to empty. church today. So often, because of their only then, our own experience of the church and the Weigel is particularly critical of Chapter VIII partial historical and theological knowledge, “sensus fidelium” to guide our opinions about of Amoris Laetitia, which would allow some they fail to see that the church is never static Francis’ successor. couples in irregular marriages to receive the but always in motion, that the demands of the Weigel’s insider status seems to allow him sacraments, though with certain conditions. Gospel become clearer over time, that failure to speak with magisterial authority, and in this Rocco Buttiglione, an Italian philosopher never means death but rather new forms of life. small book he finds room to deliver his opin- who is one of the foremost interpreters of the I offer to the publisher of The Next Pope a Cover art for "The Next Pope" (Ignatius Press) ions on every aspect of church life. There is thought of John Paul II, maintains that this proposal for another book, to be written, I sug- much to debate on many pages. I will confine I think this would come as a surprise to the hun- chapter is quite consistent with the teaching of gest, by the pastor of a large parish in the south- myself to only a few of his pronouncements. dreds of thousands of bishops, priests and per- John Paul II and a legitimate development of it. western United States, where there are nine or Weigel rightly emphasises that the next pope manent deacons in every country of the world Weigel is puzzled about the meaning of the ten Masses each weekend in three or four lan- must be fully committed to the new evangeliza- who work hard every week to help their people term synodality. In John Paul II’s letter Novo guages, where there are many essential work- tion with Christ as its centre. In countries where understand the words of Jesus in the Sunday Millennio Ineunte, issued at the end of the Ju- ers affected by the current crises, where there this is forgotten, he maintains, the church is dy- Gospel and their application to daily life. bilee Year 2000, he urged the strengthening are many undocumented immigrants and many ing. These countries are guilty of practicing In his insistence on the centrality of Christ in of all the instruments of consultation in the suffering households seeking to live the Gospel what Weigel calls Catholic Lite and include the church, Weigel makes only passing refer- church, especially insisting on listening to the authentically. I suspect the profile of the next most of Western Europe, North America, Latin ence to the crucified and risen Lord and no ref- young. That is synodality in practice. Also, the pope given by such a pastor would be quite America, Australia and New Zealand. They are erence at all to the cross. This is a serious omis- International Theological Commission, which different from the one proposed by George not sufficiently focused on Christ, he believes. sion; the church stands under the cross for both is attached to the Congregation for the Doc- Weigel. — By John J. Strynkowski, America Church condemns first federal execution in 17 years n Tuesday morning, July 14, the US fed- ted its course to execute Daniel Lee despite Vaillancourt Murphy. “In restarting the prac- Oeral government took the life of Daniel a historic decline in public support for the tice of state-sanctioned executions, our fed- Lewis Lee, in what became the United States' death penalty, clear opposition by the vic- eral leaders have demonstrated the pro-life first federal execution in 17 years. Mr Lee, tims’ family, unwavering Catholic opposition values they profess are flimsy, performative, aged 47, was pronounced dead at 8.07am to the restart of federal executions, and an un- and wholly inconsistent.” EDT. yielding global pandemic which has already The Catechism of the Catholic Church Lee was convicted, together with another taken more than 135,000 American lives.” states that “the dignity of the person is not person, killing a family of three in Arkansas The Department of Justice first announced lost even after the commission of very seri- in 1996, during a robbery, and dumping their its plan to resume federal executions in July ous crimes” (CCC 2267). It goes on to call bodies in a lake. Lee always denied the kill- 2019, launching a barrage of legal chal- the death penalty “inadmissible” in all cases ings. Earlene Peterson, 81, whose daughter, lenges. Even during Mr Lee’s execution, le- “because it is an attack on the inviolability granddaughter and son-in-law were killed by gal concerns remained regarding the federal and dignity of the person.” Lee, said she wanted him to be given life in government’s lethal injection protocol and “On this profoundly sad day, we lament jail, the same sentence as his accomplice. COVID-19 infection risks. the wrong-headed return of federal execu- “By all measures, this execution was un- On July 7, a joint letter signed by more tions,” said Vaillancourt Murphy. “Despite necessary and avoidable,” said Krisanne than 1,000 faith leaders was delivered to Daniel Lewis Lee was executed on July 14 by the horrific action this morning, we know all Vaillancourt Murphy, Executive Director of President Trump and Attorney General Barr lethal injection. life is sacred, and every person has dignity.” Catholic Mobilising Network, the national urging them to halt the planned restart in Two additional federal executions were Catholic organisation working to end the federal executions. Catholic leaders includ- ops of Iowa also issued statements upholding scheduled for July 15, and July 17, with a death penalty and promote restorative justice. ing Archbishop Paul S Coakley, Archbishop the Church’s anti-death penalty teachings. fourth to follow in the month of August. — “The federal government relentlessly plot- Charles C Thompson, and the Catholic Bish- “What justice was served here?” asked ICN 14 HERALD July 19, 2020 The Australian missionary who sought to deepen ties between two religions esuit Fr Paul Frederick Joseph Jackson, region where he was supposed to work. sightful light that emanated from the Sufi who died at the age of 83 on July 5 in During the Holy Week on Tuesday March mystic Shrafuddin Maneri of Bihar. He may JPatna’s Holy Family Hospital, lived his 24, 1964, Jesuit Fr Herman Rasschaert well have taken to heart what Maneri said: whole life to unite the communally divided from Belgium was slaughtered along with “All the religions are true at their root but India through a light he discovered in the hundreds of others who had taken refuge their blind followers introduce extraneous 14th century Sufi saint Sharafuddin Ahmad in a mosque at Gerda, Kutungia, in today’s matters.” Maneri. Jharkhand state. To expose these blind followers, first of Born June 11, 1937 in Brisbane, Aus- Rasshaert’s only crime was that he tried all he decided to work among the largest tralia, Paul Jackson, the only son of his par- to save hapless people who took refuge in religious minority of India when “narrow ents, joined the Society of Jesus in 1956 and the mosque. Indeed, when this writer vis- domestic walls” were coming up against reached India as a member of the Hazari- ited the area, local tribal people showed a them everywhere. In Jackson’s own words: bag Jesuit Province in 1961 at a time when well where dead bodies had been dumped at “One of the most pivotal moments in my northern India was still suffering from the the time. This made the mission territory in life is when I said to myself, ‘let me try to aftershocks of the communal riots of 1947 which Jackson worked very much akin to a do something for the Muslims.”’ that divided British India into the two in- description by E.M. Forster in A Passage To That moment turned out to be pivotal in dependent nations of Hindu-majority India India: “The two flames approach and strive the history of independent India’s commu- and Muslim-majority Pakistan. to unite, but cannot, because one of them nal trajectory as the Australian Jesuit decid- Soon after Jackson landed in India, he breathes air, the other stone.” ed to study history at Jamia Millia Islamia was stunned when a fellow Jesuit became It soon became Jackson's mission to unite central university in New Delhi and Urdu in a victim of that hostility within the tribal these two opposing flames through the in- Delhi University. The late Fr Paul Frederick Joseph SJ Trying to unite India’s two opposing religious communities o fight the communal forces that painted din Maneri from reputed academicians like western Bihar; Maktubat-i-Bist-o-hasht: the Tthe religious minority as villains even Annemarie Schimmel of Harward Univer- Twenty-eight Letters addressed to Mozaffar, though they are the victims, Jackson fol- sity and K.A. Nizami of Aligarh Muslim the prince of Balkh; and Fawaed-i-Rukni: lowed the teachings of Sharafuddin Maneri University, Paul Jackson lived with, and for, the brief notes prepared for Maneri’s disci- who had been born in Maner, 20 miles west the Muslims of Bihar. ple Ruknuddin. of Patna, capital of Bihar in 1263 AD. After This committed intellectual activist had a But it is the Hundred Letters that Jackson years of prayer in Bihiya forest the mystic fundamental philosophy of knowing Islam painstakingly translated into English that settled down at Bihar Sharif where he died by knowing Muslims. And by 1976 he had brought Maneri and the translator interna- in 1381 AD. become fully acquainted with academic Is- tional attention when it was published un- With very good knowledge of Urdu, Per- lam as well as the lives of Muslims, espe- der the Western Classics. sian and Hindi, Jackson delved into this cially the ordinary economically backward The original language was not an Urdu, flame of the forest from Bihiya woods with Muslims with whom he lived and con- Persian or Hindi as we understand today. typical Jesuit academic discipline and a versed. The result was the volume he edited Actually this Maner-born Sufi’s works were probing mind to bring out that light which and published: The Muslims of India: Be- a mixture of all the three along with the col- would unite India’s two opposing religious liefs and Practices. loquial vocabulary of the common people. communities. Perhaps Maneri’s own words Through his research into the life and The translation, therefore, was a Hercule- propelled Jackson into action: “All men writings of Sharafuddin Maneri, Jackson an task accomplished by an Australian, who whether in the past, or the present or the fu- found this Bihari Muslim saint was indeed made India his home with love and commit- ture are the centres of mysteries. Each body a powerful light which could enlighten the ment to its people, and became a natural- treasures a divine secret.” A Mine of Meaning presents the collected many Indians who are prejudiced against ized Indian. The problem was that those who engi- discourses of the important fourteenth century Islam and Muslims. Though the whole of Indeed, the Hundred Letters should be neered the communal riots had completely Sufi master Shaykh Sharafuddin Maneri. Maneri’s writings were the focus of his considered as addressed to the present forgotten this Manerian dictum, so Jack- After getting great compliments for his study, the following three works stand out. political rulers of India as Maneri had ad- son decided to prove it through words and doctoral thesis The Life and Teaching of a Maktubat-i-Sadi: the Hundred Letters ad- dressed it to the governor of western Bihar deeds. Fourteenth-Century Sufi Saint: Sharafud- dressed to Quazi Shamsuddin, a governor in at the time. Theology students’ exposure to Islam ut the pearls Jackson gleaned from Man- and Hinduism to open the ways to dialogue. Beri became a true unifying force the Even Jackson’s writings were aimed at moment he converted it into pedagogy for opening this channel to dialogue between Is- the theology students who would be future lam and Christianity and to remove all those Catholic priests. He started it in 1983 with prejudiced images of this world religion and the Regional Theology Centre at Danapur, its followers and thus to show the reality of Patna, with a scientifically planned curricu- Islam and Muslim life to the majority reli- lum for the students. gious community of India. The programme was called Exposure to Is- All these students who went for the live- lam and the course was called Experience of in-experience with the Muslims of Phulwari Islam by understanding it, appreciating it and Sharif, Bihar Sharif, Munger, Arrah and oth- respecting Muslims. The students were sent er places later reflected on it and shared how in pairs to Muslim urban areas in Bihar for a the exposure removed their prejudices about Christian and Muslim leaders pose for a photograph in New Delhi in March after discussing period of ten days starting from Monday and Muslims. a document released during Pope Francis’ historic visit to the United Arab Emirates in early returning on Wednesday the next week. Now imagine the impact of three decades February. (UCA News/Rita Joseph) Jackson selected the areas by going to of Jackson’s programme on his students and peror Akbar’s court won all the battles but terrible communal riots of Bihar Sharif in those places and introducing himself to the the numerous people they would come into lost the war because of their unshakable con- April-May 1981 right there where Maneri prominent local Muslim leaders: “I tell them contact with as future priests. It was a mar- fidence in the efficacy of the combination of was laid to rest. I am a Christian priest and belong to a reli- velous mission the Australian accomplished. criticising Islam and employing reason to Jackson, the visionary who lived to bring gious order called the Society of Jesus. The He gave a warning to all these future argue their own case.” an understanding between the two flames next step is to tell them about my years of re- priests when he sent them two by two — just Perhaps this man who loved the Mus- of India through the wisdom of Sharafud- search at the Khuda Bakhsh Library in Patna like Jesus in the gospels did for his disciples lims of Bihar had in mind what Sharafuddin din Maneri, leaves us at a time when India’s on Bihar’s greatest Muslim saint, Sharafud- — to the Muslims of Bihar. No arguments, Maneri wrote in one of the Hundred Letters: largest religious minority is feeling jittery din Maneri,” he reminisced. only questions to know about their hearts “Man is the highest and most perfect of all over the rise of Hindu nationalism. But we He gave written instructions to his theol- and minds and clarify certain aspects per- creatures.” have the flame of hope from Maneri’s wis- ogy students to understand, appreciate and taining to Islam. At the same time, Jackson was deeply dom: “In the court of ignorance none except respect Islam and Muslims by exploring As Jackson explained: ‘I tell the students wounded by how these perfect creatures infidels have gained admission.” — By Joe commonalities between Islam, Christianity that the Jesuits at 16th century Mughul Em- turned into ferocious misanthropists in the Palathunkal, ucanews.com HERALD July 19, 2020 Children 15 LittleLittle CCatholicsatholics’ CCornerorner The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches. (Mat 13: 31-32)

Let's Colour Answer: Top (3,6) middle (5,2) bottom (1,4) OR Top middle (4,2) bottom (1,3) (1,3) bottom (4,2) middle Top OR (1,4) bottom (5,2) middle (3,6) Top Answer:

The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom everything Hello children, ners lots of time to repent so that they that causes sin and all who do evil (Mat 13:41) Weeds are plants can go to Heaven in- that shouldn't be stead. there. They use the All the readings to- sun and water that day are about God's good plants need. mercy. God is the Have you ever most powerful of all, helped pick weeds in but instead of de- the garden? In to- stroying sinners He day's parable Jesus wants to give them tells about a man more chances. who lets the weeds When you think grow along with the about it, you will re- wheat until harvest alize God has already time, so that the been merciful to all good plants don't get of us- because we pulled up along with have all sinned. We the weeds. should thank God for The weeds repre- His mercy; and if sent the bad people, we do sin again we who will go to Hell should show Him we at the final judge- are sorry by going to ment. God lets them Confession. stay alive as long as the good people. He Love wants to give sin- Aunty Eliz HERALD YYOOUTHUTH July 19, 2020 Young equality campaigners receive national recognition EW SOUTH WALES: Fourteen- are passionate about. Hopefully, it will year-old Preston Stevens encourage them both to continue to their Church ministries, feeling empow- Nand sixteen-year-old An- ered to engage in more social action gel Nields, from St John the Bap- throughout the Church and local com- tist RC Parish in Tamworth, have munity." The award is organised and promot- been honoured for their work in ed by Million Minutes, a charity that sup- organising a virtual equality pro- ports projects helping young people to test. Their idea was simple: they transform their lives and put Catholic so- inspired individuals of all ages to cial teaching into practice. Kate Eastmond from Million Minutes send messages of equality which says: "This award scheme is a positive were then shared on social me- response to the global pandemic, and dia. The #EqualTamworth hashtag we are awestruck by the young people was created to encourage others who are nominated. Sadly, the media narrative can overlook the amazing to do the same. efforts of the young people across the The pair are two of the first young peo- Young campaigners Preston Stevens and Angel Nields, with their winning message. country who are making this world a ple in the UK to receive the Blessed Pier an infection which he had contracted change makers. better place. Their selfless and some- Giorgio Frassati Award, which celebrates from those he was caring for. Dan Marsh, Preston and Angel's youth times unseen actions can inspire all of and recognises young people who are The Award hopes to enable everyone worker, said: "This award means a great us. Million Minutes is all about giving a promoting the common good in their lo- to reflect on how Catholic social teach- deal to both Angel and Preston; it is not voice to young people so we’re delight- cal community. The award is supported ing - such as promoting peace, building often enough that the young leaders ed to be able to recognise and shout by Cardinal Nichols and is named after community, and caring for creation - is are formally recognised for the hard about young people from across Eng- Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young man who being lived out on a daily basis. Other work they engage in week and week land and Wales. We want to celebrate devoted his life to looking after the poor, award recipients in 2020 include an out. It is great to have something formal all that they are and all that they give to sick and needy. He died aged 24 from NHS volunteer and future technology to celebrate their ministry which they our world.". — ICN Pope Francis advances cause of teen who died of bone cancer VATICAN: The Vatican announced July 11 that his illness inspired conversions. When a nun sug- “Saints for the Sick” reports that the day before Pope Francis has recognised the heroic virtues of gested that he should offer up his sufferings, he his death, on Jan. 28, 1963, he told his mother: a 14-year-old Italian boy who died in 1963. replied: “I have already offered all to Jesus for “I have made a pact with the Madonna. When The Pope advanced the cause of Angiolino the conversion of sinners. I am not afraid; Jesus the hour arrives, she will come to take me. I have Bonetta, along with four others, following a July always comes to help me.” asked her to permit me to make my purgatory on 10 meeting with Cardinal Angelo Becciu, prefect To a woman who expressed sympathy on see- this earth, not in the other world. When I die, I of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. ing him walking painfully on crutches, he said: will immediately fly to heaven.” Bonetta was born on Sept 18, 1948, in Cigole, “But don’t you know that at every step I could At the moment of his death, in the early hours, northern Italy. A lively but virtuous boy, he ex- save a soul?” he was holding his crucifix and St. Bernadette celled at school as well as at sports. When the cancer metastasised, increasing his relic, with his head turned towards a statue of When a pain developed in his knee, he attribut- agony, he turned for comfort to the Virgin Mary Mary. ed it to his athletic activities. But when he began and received the Eucharist daily. He held tight to Bonetta’s sainthood cause opened on May to lose weight, his mother took him to hospital, a crucifix and other holy objects, including a relic 19, 1998. The diocesan phase of the process where he was diagnosed with bone cancer, at the of St. Bernadette of Lourdes. He spent his nights ended on May 6, 2000. Following the decree, an- age of 12. He underwent chemotherapy and his praying the rosary for other patients who were nounced on July 11, Bonetta’s title will change leg was amputated. sick in mind and body. from “Servant of God” to “the Venerable.” According to an account of his life in Saints A photo from this time depicts him lying in bed, Pope Francis also authorised decrees concern- for the Sick, a 2010 book by Joan Carroll Cruz, with his parents beside him. His hand is extended ing four other causes during his meeting with Angiolino Bonetta Bonetta remained cheerful and his acceptance of affectionately to caress his mother’s cheek. Becciu on July 10. — CNA HERALD July 19, 2020 Youth 17 Bible Sunday CIC youth Bible Journaling meets virtually Tutorial

SIBU: In conjunction with Bible Sunday, the Sibu Diocesan Youth Apostolate had the fourth Online Roadshow with the theme of Bible Journaling brush lettering live streamed through Facebook and Youtube. In the livestream, they shared how to start a journal with a Bible reflec- tion, and what tools a beginner should use for Bible lettering. The purpose of the livestream was to share the gifts and talents of young peo- ple that they may keep following their hopes and dreams in life. Christus Vivit # 142.

Things to prepare for Bible Journaling: English-speaking youths at their first virtual Youth Meet using Zoom. 1. Bible JOHOR BAHRU: The English-speaking selves and it definitely livened up the at- of the Blessed Virgin Mary led by the 2. Pencil/eraser/ruler student youth from the Church of the mosphere. core team as a group prayer. 3. Laser Paper minimum 70gm Immaculate Conception (CIC) had their Once everyone settled down, the core Overall the youth meeting was a suc- 4. Watercolour paper/tracing paper first virtual Youth Meet through Zoom on team led the group with an opening cess! We praise and thank God for the 5. Brush Pen/Marker Pen June 7. The objective was to touch base prayer to ask God for His guidance and gift of technology, because it was truly 6. Aqua Brush pen/ watercolour/ Brush ink (op- with everyone as it had been quite a while blessings for the meeting to go smooth- meaningful and a blast getting to meet the tional) since they had last met, and to continue ly. Then, they were divided into small youths again even though it was virtually. 7. Calligraphy Tools (optional) to function as a youth group despite the breakout groups of eight to nine youths. We plan to continue with monthly on- Movement Control Order (MCO). It was Everyone shared how they have been line Youth Meets with different activities How to do Bible Journaling: organised and conducted by the core team coping since the MCO. Then they prayed (for example saying the rosary, playing Step 1: Read the Bible text with your heart and with 27 participants. for each other. Many felt better after the games, doing praise and worship) until reflect on it The meeting started off with an ice- sharing, like their burdens were set free. we are physically reunited. — By Isaac Step 2: Choose a word that touched or related to breaker — a home scavenger hunt! The It made them realise that they were all in James you personally youth had to search for the object men- similar situations and reminded that they Step 3: Write down the text and pray about it. tioned around their house and show it are in this together, as one family. instagram.com/ What does God want to tell you? to the camera. Everyone enjoyed them- The meeting concluded with the Litany cicjbyouths Step 4: Discover and answer Step 5: Choose the “word of life” to guide you during the following week Step 6: Use a pencil to create your own com- Youths STAY Home and Gather online position. PORT KLANG: St Anne’s Church youths topics that are pertinent to the issues faced ing to the topic. Step 7: Use at least two-three brush pens (STAY) have been having online gatherings by our youth. Some of the topics discussed The experiences and opinions shared by (small, medium and large) to write and draw. called STAY Home since April 19. The idea were their struggles during the MCO, real the youth have shown that they thoroughly of the online gathering came about because life vs online persona, self-love, insecuri- enjoy the gatherings. They are not as afraid At the end, we reminded our young people to the youth missed the usual face to face ties, body shaming, self-worth, confidence, as they usually would be at face-to-face find their own way to pray and read the Bible. gatherings that were held every Sunday the pressure to be perfect and struggles with gatherings. They find it easier to answer Many of us might not be able to pray for more from 5.00pm to 7.00pm. Word was getting pride. questions or share more personal experi- than an hour, but when we draw and write the around that they missed the safe space that The agenda for each meeting comprised ences from the comfort of their homes. The Bible verses, we can spend three to four hours they found in attending the gatherings, so praise and worship, games and then dis- general feedback shows that the youth leave in contemplation. Writing and drawing can be a the team decided to try the online approach. cussions. The approach taken in the online the session feeling motivated and content. form of prayer too. It trains our compassion and This online gathering came as a viable and gatherings is to allow as many people as The online gatherings are something that gives us time to absorb the word of God in our somewhat equally exciting option. possible, if not all, to share their opinions the youth look forward to during the MCO heart. The reflection of the night was “See with The youth ministry core team, which and views. Questions regarding the topic as they rarely have any other plans that in- the eyes, hear with the ears, and understand with comprises of 11 dedicated individuals, are put forward to encourage soul-search- volve socialising with others outside their the heart. Matthew 13:15 came together online to discuss the content ing and thinking. These are coupled with homes. As other phases of the MCO such St John said “I write to you, young people, be- for that week. The goal was to come up with activities such as games and quizzes relat- as the CMCO and RMCO were introduced, cause you are strong and the word of God abides the team adapted to organise gatherings in you” 1 Jn 2:14. Seeking the Lord, keeping his less frequently. The effort involved experi- word, entrusting our life to him and growing in menting with different platforms to find the the virtues: all these things make young hearts best fit for the duration and number of par- strong. That is why you need to stay connected ticipants for each gathering. to Jesus, to “remain” with him, since you will The youth ministry has plans to continue not grow happy and holy by your own efforts the online gatherings until directives from and intelligence alone. Just as you try not to lose the Archdiocese are received that will al- your connection to the internet, make sure that low face-to-face gatherings to resume. you stay connected to the Lord CV 158. A good Gatherings are held on Sundays at 6.30pm relationship begins with dialogue, listening and on Google Meet. — By Daphne Jothy life sharing. Reading the bible is a meeting with Selvarajah God our father. Write it down, sing out loud, dance with God. instagram.com/ FACEBOOK.COM/SDYD II 2020 stannesyouthpk sT ANNE’s YOUTH during their online gathering. 18 HERALD July 19, 2020 Professor Nicholas Lash has died LONDON: Professor Nicholas Lash and his rule, and then served for five A loyal and obedient Roman family.” passed away on July 11. He had been years in the Royal Engineers before Catholic, Fisher House hosted his Professor Anna Roper Rowlands, struggling with illness for some studying for the priesthood, eventu- reception of a Papal Knighthood at St Hilda Associate Professor of time. From an army background, ally becoming Dean of St Edmund’s Fisher House in May 2017. Catholic Social Thought and Prac- he became in 1978 the Norris-Hulse College, Cambridge. He and his wife Janet were stal- tice at the Department of Theology Professor of Divinity at Cambridge In 1975 he resigned his ministry warts of the chaplaincy and Marga- and Religious Studies at Durham — the first Catholic to serve in such and became a lecturer in the Divin- ret Beaufort Institute, and among the University, tweeted: “Thinking a post since the Reformation. ity Faculty at Cambridge University. most beloved members. with sadness and gratitude about Born in India in 1934, he was the Three years later, Nicholas was The Margaret Beaufort Institute friend and mentor of so many of nephew of the Anglican bishop of appointed to the Norris-Hulse Divin- of Theology tweeted: “We pray for us Nicholas Lash, intellectually Bombay, while his brother became ity chair, one of the most prestigious the repose of the soul of Professor brilliant, cutting, no-fools-suffer- an Orthodox Archimandrite, and his professorships at the University. Nicholas Lash who died this morn- ing, funny. The only person to fall own nephews are the actors Ralph Brilliant and imaginative Profes- ing. A great friend and supporter asleep briefly during a paper I gave and Joseph Fiennes. sor Lash was the author of numer- of the Margaret Beaufort Institute. and still ask the best question. May He attended Downside school, ous theological books, and a regular May he rest in peace and rise in the angels come to greet him.” — where he imbibed a love of Benedict contributor to theological journals. glory. Our prayers too for Jan and ICN/ Agencies Professor Nicholas Lash For more enquiries, please contact: Thanksgiving Email: [email protected] Prayers m e m o r i a m Tel: 03-2026 8290 / 03-2026 8291 Favours In Loving Memory of In Ever Loving Memory of Oh come, let us sing received to the LORD; let us 26th Anniversary 16th Anniversary 23rd Anniversary 8th Anniversary make a joyful noise Thank you to the rock of our salvation! Dearest Sacred Let us come into his Heart of Jesus, presence with thanks- Mother of giving; Perpertual Succour, let us make a joyful noise to him with St Anthony, songs of praise! St Jacinta, For the LORD is a Dr Paul Francis Mrs Theresa Subramaniam St Francisco great God, Philip Tung Kwan Kun Margaret Mary Subramaniam (nee Jee Beng Yew) and a great King @ Tang Kwan Kun Foo Pei Fong All Saints Departed: 13 June 1997 Departed: 26 July 2012 above all gods. Departed: 04-12-1994 Departed: 23-07-2004 Sr Lucia In his hand are the Fondly remembered by and also depths of the earth; “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes Rev Steve (deceased) Fr Philip Muthu the heights of the in Me, though he may die. he shall live. And whoever Noel John for favours mountains are lives and believes in Me shall never die.” Margaret his also. – Jn. 11:25-26 Tina received. Psalm 95:1-4 “I am the Resurrection and the Life. — T. S. M. Fondly remembered by children and loved ones. If anyone believes in Me even though he dies, he will live.” – John 11:25 HERALD July 19 2020 Saints of the Week & Short Readings 19 St Lawrence of Brindisi Daily Short t first glance, perhaps the most -remark by his fellow Capuchins and was elected minis- Reading Aable quality of Lawrence of Brindisi is his ter general of the Capuchins in 1602. In this po- outstanding gift of languages. In addition to a sition, he was responsible for great growth and Sunday, July 19 thorough knowledge of his native Italian, he had geographical expansion of the Order. (2 Timothy 2:8,11-13) complete reading and speaking ability in Latin, Lawrence was then appointed papal emis- Remember the Good News that I Hebrew, Greek, German, Bohemian, Spanish, sary and peacemaker, a job which took him carry, ‘Jesus Christ risen from the and French. to a number of foreign countries. An effort to dead, sprung from the race of Da- Lawrence was born on July 22, 1559, and achieve peace in his native kingdom of Naples vid’. Here is a saying that you can died exactly 60 years later on his birthday in took him on a journey to Lisbon to visit the king rely on: ‘If we have died with him, 1619. His parents William and Elizabeth Russo of Spain. Serious illness in Lisbon took his life then we shall live with him. If we gave him the name of Julius Caesar, Caesare in in 1619. hold firm, then we shall reign with Italian. After the early death of his parents, he In 1956, the Capuchins completed a 15-vol- him. If we disown him, then he will was educated by his uncle at the College of St. ume edition of Lawrence’s writings. Eleven of disown us. We may be unfaithful, Mark in Venice. these 15 contain his sermons, each of which re- but he is always faithful, for he can- When he was just 16, he entered the Capu- lies chiefly on scriptural quotations to illustrate not disown his own self. chin Franciscan Order in Venice and received his teaching. Monday, July 20 the name of Lawrence. He completed his stud- tian. (Judith 8:25-26,27) ies of philosophy and theology at the University Lawrence’s sensitivity to the needs of people Reflection of Padua and was ordained a priest at 23. — a character trait perhaps unexpected in such His constant devotion to Scripture, coupled with Let us give thanks to the Lord our With his facility for languages Lawrence was a talented scholar — began to surface. He was great sensitivity to the needs of people, present God who, as he tested our ances- able to study the Bible in its original texts. At the elected major superior of the Capuchin Francis- a lifestyle which appeals to Christians today. tors, is now testing us. Remember request of Pope Clement VIII, he spent much can province of Tuscany at the age of 31. He had Lawrence had a balance in his life that blended how he treated Abraham, all the or- time preaching to the Jews in Italy. So excellent the combination of brilliance, human compas- self-discipline with a keen appreciation for the deals of Isaac and all that happened was his knowledge of Hebrew that the rabbis sion, and administrative skill needed to carry out needs of those whom he was called to serve. — to Jacob. For as these ordeals were felt sure he was a Jew who had become a Chris- his duties. In rapid succession he was promoted franciscanmedia.org intended by him to search their hearts, so now this is not venge- ance that God exacts against us, but a warning inflicted by the Lord St Mary Magdalene on those who are near his heart. xcept for the mother of Jesus, few women are she “is not…the same as the sinner of Luke 7:37, Emore honoured in the Bible than Mary Mag- despite the later Western romantic tradition about Tuesday, July 21 dalene. Yet she could well be the patron of the her.” (Isaiah 55:1) slandered, since there has been a persistent legend Mary Magdalene was one of the many “who Oh, come to the water all you who in the Church that she is the unnamed sinful wom- were assisting them [Jesus and the Twelve] out of are thirsty; an who anointed the feet of Jesus in Luke 7:36-50. their means.” She was one of those who stood by though you have no money, come! Most Scripture scholars today point out that the cross of Jesus with his mother. And, of all the Buy corn without money, and eat, there is no scriptural basis for confusing the two “official” witnesses who might have been chosen and, at no cost, wine and milk. women. Mary Magdalene, that is, “of Magdala,” for the first awareness of the Resurrection, she Wednesday, July 22 was the one from whom Christ cast out “seven was the one to whom that privilege was given. (Romans 12:1-2) demons” (Luke 8:2)—an indication at the worst, She is known as the “Apostle to the Apostles.” of extreme demonic possession or possibly, se- Think of God’s mercy, my broth- vere illness. Reflection ers, and worship him, I beg you, in Writing in the New Catholic Commentary, Fr Mary Magdalene has been a victim of mistaken a way that is worthy of thinking be- Wilfrid J. Harrington, OP, says that “seven de- identity for almost 20 centuries. Yet she would no ings, by offering your living bodies mons” “does not mean that Mary had lived an im- doubt insist that it makes no difference. We are as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to Feastday: July 22 moral life — a conclusion reached only by means all sinners in need of the saving power of God, God. Do not model yourselves on Patron Saint of: of a mistaken identification with the anonymous whether our sins have been lurid or not. More im- the behaviour of the world around Penitents woman of Luke 7:36.” In the Jerome Biblical portantly, we are all “unofficial” witnesses of the you, but let your behaviour change, Perfumers Commentary, Fr Edward Mally, SJ, agrees that Resurrection. — franciscanmedia.org modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the per- St James the Apostle fect thing to do. his James is the brother of John the Evan- Feastday: July 25 Thursday, July 23 Tgelist. The two were called by Jesus as they (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) worked with their father in a fishing boat on the Patron Saint of: I shall be very happy to make my Sea of Galilee. Jesus had already called another Chile Rheumatism weaknesses my special boast so pair of brothers from a similar occupation: Pe- Laborers Spain that the power of Christ may stay ter and Andrew. “He walked along a little far- Nicaragua ther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his over me, and that is why I am quite brother John. They too were in a boat mending them all the lesson of humble service: The pur- content with my weaknesses, and their nets. Then he called them. So they left their pose of authority is to serve. They are not to im- with insults, hardships, persecu- father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired pose their will on others, or lord it over them. tions, and the agonies I go through men and followed him” (Mark 1:19-20). This is the position of Jesus himself. He was the for Christ’s sake. For it is when I am James was one of the favoured three who had servant of all; the service imposed on him was weak that I am strong. the privilege of witnessing the Transfiguration, the supreme sacrifice of his own life. Friday, July 24 the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus, and On another occasion, James and John gave (2 Corinthians 12:9b-10) the agony in Gethsemani. evidence that the nickname Jesus gave them — With Christ I hang upon the cross, Two incidents in the Gospels describe the tem- “sons of thunder” — was an apt one. The Sa- and yet I am alive; or rather, not I; it perament of this man and his brother. St Mat- maritans would not welcome Jesus because he is Christ that lives in me. True, I am thew tells that their mother came — Mark says it was on his way to hated Jerusalem. “When the living, here and now, this mortal life; was the brothers themselves — to ask that they disciples James and John saw this they asked, but my real life is the faith I have in have the seats of honour in the kingdom. “Jesus ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from the Son of God, who loved me, and said in reply, ‘You do not know what you are heaven to consume them?’ Jesus turned and re- gave himself for me. asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going buked them…” (Luke 9:54-55). Reflection to drink?’ They said to him, ‘We can’” (Matthew James was apparently the first of the apostles The way the Gospels treat the Apostles Saturday, July 25 20:22). Jesus then told them they would indeed to be martyred. “About that time King Herod is a good reminder of what holiness is all (Philippians 2:14-15) drink the cup and share his baptism of pain and laid hands upon some members of the church to about. There is very little about their vir- What we are waiting for is what he death, but that sitting at his right hand or left was harm them. He had James, the brother of John, tues as static possessions, entitling them promised: the new heavens and not his to give — it “is for those for whom it has killed by the sword, and when he saw that this to heavenly reward. Rather, the great em- new earth, the place where right- been prepared by my Father” (Matthew 20:23b). was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest phasis is on the Kingdom, on God’s giv- eousness will be at home. So then, It remained to be seen how long it would take Peter also” (Acts 12:1-3a). ing them the power to proclaim the Good my friends, while you are waiting, do to realise the implications of their confident “We This James, sometimes called James the News. As far as their personal lives are your best to live lives without spot can!” Greater, is not to be confused with James the concerned, there is much about Jesus’ or stain so that he will find you at The other disciples became indignant at the Lesser or with the author of the Letter of James purifying them of narrowness, pettiness, peace. Think of our Lord's patience ambition of James and John. Then Jesus taught and the leader of the Jerusalem community. fickleness.— franciscanmedia.org as your opportunity to be saved. Evangelisation: Our Families We pray that today’s families may be accompanied with love, respect and guidance.

Download the Click To Pray updates now. THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY July 19, 2020 Vatican official calls for action after UN reports rising hunger rate VATICAN: After the UN Food and even without taking into account the fore, the importance of education is Agriculture Organisation projected a potential impacts of the COVID-19 fundamental, starting from the family drastic increase in hunger and malnu- pandemic.” and naturally, from school,” he said. trition due to the coronavirus, a Vati- Msgr Chica said that the report not Msgr Chica also said that just poli- can official called on the international only highlights the problems with cies are needed in the world that side community to work together to com- hunger but also malnutrition and ac- with local producers and guarantee bat poverty. cessibility to healthy food sources. people have access to food markets. Msgr Fernando Chica Arellano, the “The problem is that while there He also called on governments to Vatican’s permanent observer to the are food products available, not eve- reduce the cost of nutritious food FAO, said the COVID-19 pandemic ryone is able to obtain them. They are “because without this, diets cannot has not caused new problems but in- not accessible, and when they are, be healthy”, which will lead to an in- stead “has worsened already existing they are not healthy. Many people eat crease in noninfectious diseases, such problems.” food that lacks micronutrients. And as obesity and diabetes. “Hunger and poverty are related” A man looks for food in a dumpster in late June in San Francisco, Venezuela, so, if the diet isn’t healthy, it results “We must invest in agriculture, a issues, he said. “Peace and, above all, during the COVID-19 pandemic. (CNS photo/Humberto Matheus, Sipa USA in obesity-related illnesses,” he said. sustainable agriculture that not only the issue of cooperation and solidar- via Reuters) Recalling Pope Francis’ encycli- thinks of today but also of tomorrow, ity are related. The world must invest million people went hungry in 2019. report said, referring to one of the cal on the environment, Msgr Chica because the world doesn’t belong just in peace, solidarity and justice. Oth- The coronavirus pandemic, it pro- United Nations' sustainable devel- said its focus on the importance of to us,” he said. “It belongs to young erwise, the world’s problems will jected, “may add between 83 and 132 opment goals. “If recent trends con- education extends to teaching future people who expect from us a better continue.” million people to the total number of tinue, the number of people affected generations how to eat a healthy diet. world, not just an accumulation of According to the FAO’s State of undernourished in the world.” by hunger will surpass 840 million “Children often focus on diets that filth. It belongs to them, it’s an inher- Food Security and Nutrition in the “The world is not on track to by 2030 or 9.8 per cent of the popu- are saturated with fats. We need to itance that we must leave to them.” World 2020 report, an estimated 690 achieve Zero Hunger by 2030,” the lation. This is an alarming scenario, teach them how to eat well. There- — By Junno Arocho Esteves, CNS ‘Pope Francis’ hospital boat delivers Penang’s Chief Minister visits aid to pandemic-hit Amazon Minor Basilica of St Anne ROME: A hospital boat named af- ter Pope Francis has been deliver- ing medical aid along the Amazon River as rural communities struggle amid Brazil’s devastating coronavi- rus outbreak. “This vessel has already done great miracles in the lives of our riverside people, bringing health and hope,” Franciscan Bro Joel Chief Minister of Penang, YB Chow Kon Yeow with Berapit State Assembly- Sousa told the Brazilian Bishops’ man Heng Lee Lee visited the Minor Basilica of St Anne July 12. Conference news portal. Since the boat service was inau- BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Chief visit in the St. Anne Evangelisa- gurated in July 2019, the medical Minister of Penang, YB Chow Kon tion Centre and Museum. There, he crew has carried out 46,000 medical Pope Francis hospital ship. Credit: Vatican Media. Yeow, paid a visit to the Minor Ba- acknowledged the financial impact consultations in the communities silica of St Anne, accompanied by that the MCO has had on religious along the Amazon River. However, ventilators to Brazil to treat those ed by the Fraternity of St Francis of Berapit State Assemblyman Heng institutions and praised the church in the face of Brazil’s coronavirus who have contracted the virus. Assisi in the Providence of God in Lee Lee July 12. for its exemplary decision to not outbreak, the crew has shifted its One of them, sent to a hospital in partnership with their local diocese The Chief Minister spent approx- lay off staff despite the fiscal chal- focus to prevention and testing. Marabá, a municipality in the state and the Brazilian government. imately 30 minutes touring the Mi- lenges. “We couldn’t be out of this fight. of Pará, will be “used especially for The Brazilian Franciscans were nor Basilica with Deacon Lazarus, At the end of his tour, the Chief We got together and reorganised the Indigenous peoples,” according inspired to create the floating Fr Nelson Joseph, Deacon Rocky Minister pledged to look into state ourselves, so that together we could to the local bishop. hospital when Pope Francis vis- Lee and other church leaders, who financial contributions for non- also fight against COVID-19,” Sou- Despite their isolation, commu- ited their healthcare facility during were at hand to welcome him. Muslim places of worship and sa said. nities along the Amazon River have World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro This was the YB Chow’s first vis- hoped that the easing of restrictions The coronavirus pandemic has not been shielded from the out- in 2013. During the visit, the Pope it to the church. He appeared to be would allow devotees to resume hit Brazil hard. With nearly 1.9 break. The virus spread after two encouraged Friar Francisco Be- in a jovial mood as he observed the their religious obligations in ac- million COVID-19 cases, Brazil cities along the mouth of the river, lotti to expand his religious order’s SOPs in place for the weekly Mass. cordance with the new normal. has the second highest number of Belem and Macapa, experienced charitable works into the Amazon YB Chow and Deacon Lazarus Deacon Lazarus also took the recorded pandemic fatalities in the outbreaks in the spring. region. spoke at length regarding the vari- opportunity to thank YB Chow for world after the United States. “We are mainly treating flu-like The boat, 105 feet in length, con- ous struggles faced by the Church his visit and announced that the Mi- At least 72,833 people have died symptoms and mild, outpatient tains an operating room and analy- in the light of the Movement Con- nor Basilica, shrine and the church of COVID-19 in Brazil as of July COVID-19 symptoms. The doc- sis laboratory, and is able to provide trol Order which began in March compound will be closed through- 14, according to the Johns Hopkins tor performs the consultations and a range of medical services, includ- and also took the time to reiterate out the duration of this year’s Feast Coronavirus Resource Center. we deliver medicines to the local ing X-rays, vaccinations, electro- that the battle against COVID-19 of St. Anne to minimise the risk of Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro health department,” Sousa said. cardiogram, mammograms, and was far from over. COVID-19 transmission. Instead, announced July 7 that he had tested The hospital boat is staffed by ultrasounds. The hospital began After stopping at various loca- the entire feast will be livestreamed positive for the coronavirus. medical volunteers, crew members, treating its first patients Aug. 18.— tions throughout the compound, online in various languages. — By Pope Francis also donated four and Franciscan friars. It was found- By Courtney Mares, CNA the Chief Minister concluded his Darren Raphael Yeoh