Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. MAY 31, 2020 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of service, but the TERHAD PP 8460/11/2012(030939) same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, ISSN: 1394-3294 but it is the same God who empowers them all Vol. 27 No. 21 THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY in everyone. 1 Cor. 12:3b-6 Faith, not efficiency, is the heart of Church’s mission ATICAN: Pope Francis’ re- bly was cancelled due to the coronavirus missionary societies’ unity in faith, such as cent message to the pontifi- pandemic. self-absorption and elitism. While the mission societies raise aware- “Instead of leaving room for the working Vcal mission societies is a re- ness and promote prayer for the missions, of the Holy Spirit, many initiatives and enti- minder that the church's primary they also raise money to fund myriad pro- ties connected to the Church end up being mission is to proclaim the Gospel, jects in some of the world’s poorest coun- concerned only with themselves,” the Pope not run institutions with business- tries. Pope Francis warned, however, that said. “Many ecclesiastical establishments, at fundraising can never be their first priority. every level, seem to be swallowed up by the like efficiency, said Filipino Cardi- Cardinal Tagle said Pope Francis sees a obsession of promoting themselves and their nal Luis Antonio Tagle. danger in donations becoming “merely funds own initiatives, as if that were the objective In an interview with Vatican News pub- or resources to be used, rather than tangible and goal of their mission.” lished May 28, Cardinal Tagle, prefect of signs of love, of prayer, of sharing the fruits Cardinal Tagle told Vatican News that the Congregation for the Evangelisation of of human labour.” God’s gift of love is at the heart of the church Peoples, said that the Pope “is not against “The faithful who become committed and and its mission in the world, “not a human efficiency and methods” that could help the joyful missionaries are our best resource, not plan.” If the actions of the Church are sepa- Church’s missionary activities. money per se,” the cardinal said. “It is also rated from this root, they “are reduced to However, the cardinal said, “he is warning good to remind our faithful that even their mere functions and fixed plans of action.” us about the danger of ‘measuring’ Church small donations, when put together, become “God’s surprises and ‘disturbances’ are mission using only the standards and out- Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle a tangible expression of the Holy Father’s considered destructive of our prepared pro- comes predetermined by the models or he said. “The most efficiently run Church universal missionary charity to churches in jects. For me, to avoid the risk of function- schools of management, no matter how good organisation may end up being the least mis- need. No gift is too small when given for the alism, we need to return to the spring of and useful these may be.” sionary.” common good.” the Church’s life and mission: God’s gift in “The tools of efficiency can help but The Pope sent the message May 21 to the In his message, the Pope warned of “pit- Jesus and the Holy Spirit,” he said. — By should never substitute for Church mission,” mission societies after their general assem- falls and pathologies” that may threaten the Junno Arocho Esteves, CNS A prayer Pope Francis returns to window for our nation overlooking St Peter’s Square Leader: Let us proclaim the name of the Lord; VATICAN: Pope Francis delivered his Regina Coeli ad- and ascribe greatness to our God! dress from the window overlooking St Peter’s Square for the first time since coronavirus restrictions were imposed All: in March. Lord, your work is perfect. In a statement, the Holy See press office said that on May And all your ways are just. 31 the Pope would recite the Regina Coeli with pilgrims Let Your voice be heard today gathered in the square below. by all the nations! “The police will guarantee safe access to the square and will ensure that the faithful present can respect the neces- O God, Judge of the nations, sary interpersonal distance,” the statement said May 26. put fear into our hearts so that Traditionally, the Pope leads the Sunday Angelus — and we may know that we are only human. the Regina Coeli, between Easter Sunday and Pentecost — Father, the whole of creation groans from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St and labours to be delivered Peter’s Square. from the bondage of corruption, But from March 8 onwards, Pope Francis delivered his into the glorious liberty of address via videolink from the library of the Apostolic the children of God. Palace, and offered a blessing from the window above an Lord Jesus, send forth Your Spirit of empty St Peter’s Square. Truth and let this Spirit prove to People were allowed in St Peter’s Square for the pope’s ‘the powers that be’ how wrong Sunday blessing for the first time in more than 10 weeks they are about sin, May 24 after Italy significantly loosened its coronavirus righteousness and judgment. restrictions. O Lord, declare the power of Each person who entered the square was required to your works to Your peoples and let us be wear a face mask and security enforced social distancing filled with the knowledge of Your glory for the people gathered outside of St Peter’s Basilica, which as the waters cover the sea. reopened to the public May 18. The Holy See press office said that before this Sunday’s Gather us, O Lord, in Your Name Regina Coeli the Pope would celebrate a Pentecost Mass, and may all worship the One True God. without the presence of the people, in the Blessed Sacra- Amen. ment Chapel at St Peter’s Basilica. (A prayer composed from The Pope is scheduled to deliver his general audience ad- various Scripture verses of the Bible) Pope Francis gives his blessing from the window of the library in the Apostolic Palace April dress this Wednesday from the Apostolic Palace library. It 13, 2020, after a live transmission of the “Regina Coeli” prayer. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) will be livestreamed on the Vatican News website. — CNA 2 FORUM / REFLECTION HERALD May 31, 2020 Imagining a new world this Pentecost he other day, a rising tennis superstar, create employment in new or neglected sec- Stefanos Tsitsipas, said something tors eg in organic and urban farming, non- Tquite profound: Sunday Observer toxic renewable energy, waste reduction “Life is pretty different being in lock- By and recycling, education and the arts and down. We are in a pause and it feels very the building of non-polluting buses, ferries different not being able to engage with peo- Anil Netto and trains. ple, be in places where there are many peo- We could regenerate our forests and clean [email protected] ple, you can hang out with other people,” up our rivers (although the lockdowns have he said. shown, we don’t really have to do much, “I actually think they should put us in when there was hardly any carbon footprint but preventing major illness by strengthen- just stay at home and the air and rivers be- lockdown once a year — it’s good for na- or much in the way of harmful polluting ing our immune systems and boosting our come cleaner!). ture, it’s good for our planet. I actually think emissions, no toxic agro-business that pro- health in mind, body, spirit and soul. Every year, we are reminded at Pentecost it will be environmentally very beneficial.” motes monoculture and reduces biodiver- We need more social solidarity and less of how creation is groaning, waiting to be “Life is such a hustle, and you never get sity. And yet God felt the need for the Earth survival of the fittest. Think of retrench- set free. the time to spend with your family and con- and its people to have a breather. ment and unemployment benefits, universal But this year that message takes on added nect with them. Now it’s an opportunity to How much more do we need such a peri- basic pensions for senior citizens, universal urgency. do so.” odic breather now! healthcare. There are two ways we can look at the Tsitsipas may not have realised it, but he The pandemic has given the Earth a The Market (with a big M) must be re- recent pandemic and climate change. stumbled on to an ancient truth from the forced breather — at tremendous cost to embedded into the ecosystem so that it One is the alarmist way, seeing these as Old Testament: the Jubilee Year. lives and livelihoods. Someone pointed out becomes a small “m” – ie in service of hu- the signs of the end-times. This would be This was not every year but every 50 that the poor, living in cramped crowded manity instead of lording over us, exploit- a passive, defeatist attitude, as if we lack years — at the end of seven cycles of sab- conditions, could hardly practise social dis- ing workers and degrading the ecosystem. the agency to do anything about it when we batical years — as stipulated in Leviticus tancing, nor could they “work from home”.