tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96054432024-03-09T20:11:13.745+08:00The Threshold of Hope<br>
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<br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1121419251840402692008-12-31T16:59:00.000+08:002007-12-26T20:17:37.221+08:00Best of the BlogHere are a selection of topics that can be found in our pages.<br />They are here to provide first time readers an overview of what can be found in this blog, and also so that you don't miss some really insightful and informative pieces that have appeared in the past.<br /><br /><strong>Personal Sharings<br /></strong><ul><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/02/i-am.html">I AM</a></li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/02/reflection-on-lent-5th-sundays-1st.html">A reflection on Lent: 5th Sunday's 1st Reading </a></li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/07/visiting-church-just-to-have-quiet.html">Visiting A Church just to have Quiet Time</a></li></ul><strong></strong><strong><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >The Catholic Church in Singapore</span><br /></strong><ul><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2006/07/comparethe-veritas-website.html">Compare... the Veritas! Website</a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">- comparing two church websites leads to an informative debate on whether the church should pay for quality work. (Aug 06)</span><br /></span></li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/01/is-sunday-missal-meant-to-be-read.html">Is the Sunday Missal meant to be read during Mass?</a></li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/01/church-and-media-relations.html">The Church and Media relations:</a><span style="font-size:85%;">- On the Archibishop's response to the tsunami</span></li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/07/familiar-or-foreign-church.html">Familiar or Foreign?: Church Architecture and Worship</a></li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/06/should-we-sing-our-father-in-latin.html">Should we sing the 'Our Father' in Latin?</a></li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/06/on-recent-changes-to-way-we-celebrate.html">On the recent changes to the way we celebrate mass in Singapore</a>: more on the Latin debate.</li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/06/should-catholics-read-da-vinci-code.html">Should Catholics read the Da Vinci Code?</a></li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/08/good-ole-liturgy.html">Good ole Liturgy - the Latin rite</a></li></ul><strong>Youth Ministry</strong><br /><ul><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/01/confusion-and-confirmation.html">Confirmation</a> : Problems with our catechesis and what to do about it.</li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/01/discovering-purpose-of-youth-ministry.html">Discovering the Purpose of Youth Ministry</a></li></ul><strong>Catholicism and Protestantism</strong><br /><ul><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/01/are-you-christian-or-catholic.html">Are you Christian or Catholic?</a></li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/02/do-catholics-evangelise.html">Do Catholics evangelise?</a></li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/05/meeting-lutheran-friend.html">Meeting a Lutheran friend...</a></li></ul><strong></strong><strong>Theology</strong><br /><ul><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/01/why-god-allowed-deadly-tsunami-to.html">Why God 'allowed' deadly tsunami to strike</a>?</li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/07/problem-of-evil-reflection-in-wake-of.html">The Problem of Evil: A Reflection in the Wake of the Asian Tsunami</a></li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/04/image-is-nothing-but-image.html">Image is nothing but an image</a></li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/07/creation-and-evolution.html">Creation and Evolution</a></li><li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/Where">Where do the souls of those who died professing other faiths fit in?</a></li><li><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/08/incredible-intelligent-design-what.html">(In)credible "intelligent design" -- what should science teachers be teaching?</a></li></ul>I wish to thank every single writer that has contributed to this blog for spending the time and energy to share. <em>"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find" (Matthew 7:7)</em> I am sure you will find, as I have, that writing in these pages has allowed each of us to grow in our own way.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1520101958526852572008-02-25T22:08:00.001+08:002008-02-25T22:08:36.407+08:00Embryo: a debate<p>Embryo debate between Saletan & George/Tollefsen</p> <ol> <li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/10/books/review/Saletan-t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print" target="_blank">Little Children</a> by William Saletan </li> <li><a href="http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=Y2IxM2QzNDc4OTJhNmJjODEzMDBiYjRiZjQyOTg3YWM=" target="_blank">Embryonic Debate</a> by Robert P. George & Christopher Tollefsen </li> <li><a href="http://www.slate.com/toolbar.aspx?action=print&id=2184360" target="_blank">The Machine of a new Soul</a> by William Saletan </li> <li><a href="http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=MzJjZWNjOTg4OWU3YzViZjY1NTQ5MjRhYWE4MzhhZjQ=" target="_blank">Civil Engagement</a> by Robert P. George & Christopher Tollefsen </li> </ol> ChrisOwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05951424372570559829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-88501804115557509082007-12-27T15:22:00.001+08:002007-12-27T15:22:00.240+08:00Saying what needs to be said<p>Seen in a parish bulletin. A letter from the pastor to his parishioners.</p> <blockquote> <p>My dear people of St. Matthew’s, <br />Recently we have been discussing what it means to be a “practicing Catholic.” We saw that the Catechism of the Catholic Church, published in 1992, lists five “precepts,” or basic laws, that are fundamental to living the Catholic Faith. In short, following these precepts is absolutely necessary in order to call oneself a “practicing Catholic,” although much more is required than the bare minimum to call oneself a “good Catholic.” <br />The First Precept, as we saw previously, is: <strong>You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation and rest from servile labor. <br /></strong>It is the widespread violation of this precept that has caused the greatest number of problems in our Church over the last forty years. Currently, the number of Roman Catholics in the United States who live this precept and attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day is roughly 20 percent. Obviously, this is a deplorable statistic, and is the explanation for many of the troubles in our Catholic families. <br />Marriage is a sacrament. When a couple comes to a Catholic parish wanting to get married, they first must have an interview with a priest or a deacon. Any Catholic clergyman will tell you his experience is that the overwhelming majority of couples who approach the Church seeking the sacrament of marriage are living together, and are not attending Mass on any regular basis. Now, if a couple are not practicing Catholics, why would they want to get married in the Church? The answer, I suppose, is that they feel “culturally Catholic.” They want to have a traditional wedding, with all the trappings, and they want to have it in the parish church with which they have family associations. After the wedding, they never set foot in church again until the first baby needs baptism. Then, when Catholic couples divorce in the same percentages as the rest of society, everyone is mystified. If they speak to a priest at some point, inevitably the question comes: “How could God let this happen?” The only answer we can give to a question like that is: “You never allowed Him into your marriage in the first place. You never prayed, you never came to Church, you never went to confession, and occasionally you received Communion unworthily. How did you expect Him to help you when you shut Him out of your life so completely?” <br />The other place where this manifests itself so clearly is in the area of religious education. Here at St. Matthew’s we have an excellent religious education program, staffed by very hard working employees and dedicated volunteers. We try our best to provide a quality, orthodox Catholic education for our young people, and strive each year to improve it. The problem is that very few of the 2,000 children in the program are ever taken to Mass by their parents. The numbers are no different in St. Matthew’s than they are in any other parish in our diocese, or in our country for that matter. I will tell you honestly, I simply do not understand why parents bring their children to religious education classes if they are not practicing Catholics and never come to Mass. If I were a parent and not at all religious, I simply wouldn’t bother. And if I did, I certainly would not complain constantly about the minimalist requirements of the program. I do not want to sound blasphemous, but why would parents take their children to soccer practice each week and then never take them to play in a game? <br />It is hard, perhaps, for parents who are not religious to understand, but the Catholic Church cannot give their children anything that they are not first receiving at home. In the religious education program, we have children for about an hour a week for twenty-four weeks a year. The kids come late, and leave early. They miss classes. They never come to Mass unless mandated by the program under pain of expulsion. Is it any wonder, then, that they are bored, misbehave, learn to hate religion, and don’t know even the most basic Catholic prayers by the seventh grade? Anyone with any sense knows that Catholic religious education in America is a complete and utter failure. But the reason for this is directly related to the refusal to come every week to Sunday Mass. Absent that, everything we do will be nothing more than going through the motions. Our children deserve better.</p> <p>-Fr. McCartney</p> </blockquote> <p><font color="#ccff44">Source: <a href="http://www.creativeminorityreport.com/2007/12/cultural-catholics-why-bother.html" target="_blank">Creative Minority Report</a> (with <a href="http://smrcc.org/documents/printabledocs/bul121607.pdf" target="_blank">link to original</a>)</font></p> ChrisOwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05951424372570559829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-13506495716691901822007-12-26T20:08:00.001+08:002007-12-26T20:08:42.265+08:00Old Wine, New Wineskins<p>An old article on this blog has been given a new lease of life (with illustrations too) on <a href="http://theprompt.faithweb.com/" target="_blank">The Prompt webzine</a>.</p> <p>Do pay a visit to <a href="http://theprompt.faithweb.com/" target="_blank">The Prompt</a> for <a href="http://theprompt.faithweb.com/confirmation1.htm" target="_blank">an updated version</a> of <a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/01/confusion-and-confirmation.html" target="_blank">an old post</a> I first posted here on Threshold of Hope.</p> ChrisOwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05951424372570559829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-85112394440192194342007-07-24T08:31:00.001+08:002007-07-24T11:09:06.417+08:00Reactions to the CDF clarification<p>On the <a href="http://www.boundless.org/" target="_blank">Boundless.org</a> blog, <a href="http://www.boundlessline.org/" target="_blank">The Line</a>, there is an interesting discussion going on about the <a href="http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html" target="_blank">recent document</a> released by the CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH titled <em>RESPONSES TO SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING CERTAIN ASPECTS<br>OF THE DOCTRINE ON THE CHURCH.</em></p> <p>Read the discussion <a href="http://www.boundlessline.org/2007/07/im-grateful-the.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>ChrisOwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05951424372570559829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-8685685336931280922007-02-28T03:39:00.000+08:002007-03-01T11:18:20.379+08:00PORN STARS @ CANA<p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">For local (Singapore) readers of this blog, there was an article in this issue of Catholic News where John Tan (name has been changed) shared how he overcame his addiction to pornography. He will share his story in full detail at CANA - The Catholic Centre (55 Waterloo Street, Level 2) on Thursday, March 15, 7.15pm. His session will be the first of four sessions collectively titled "<b>Porn Stars @ CANA</b>", and you can ask him your questions at this session. </span></p> <p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">In line with this healthy interest in the topic of pornography, may I present the following session on behalf of CANA:</span></p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"><b><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana;font-size:6;" > <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">PORN STARS @ CANA</span></span></b></p> <p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">CANA is holding a series of four sessions collectively titled at "Porn Stars @ CANA", where porn takes a starring role in a series of forums. The sessions will be held on Thursdays - March 15, 22, 29 and April 12 - at 7.15pm.<br /><br />The first session (March 15) will be an interview with a young man "John Tan" (name has been changed). John is a good Catholic man who not only attends Mass faithfully every Sunday, but at some points even attended daily Mass. He frequently received the sacraments, was looked up to by his friends, was very active in church ministry and later on in his university. But behind all this, he kept a dark secret - he was addicted to pornography. John will bare his soul at this session at CANA, and share how his dirty secret brought harm to him and the people around him, how he sunk to his lowest point, and how he eventually managed to overcome his addiction.<br /><br />In the second session (March 22) will be a forum discussion with a youth, a parent, and a priest. The panelists will share their experiences on encountering the topic of porn in their circles, and what they, as Catholic individuals, did about it. The topic then turns to the floor and invites audience members to share what they, as Catholic individuals, are doing about the problem of porn which is so rampant in our Singapore society.<br /><br />The third session (March 29) will turn the discussion towards finding out what Catholics, as a body or organization, can do about the problem of pornography. We will hear from Catholics in the media industry and staff from the Family Life Society on what is already being done, and find out what more we can do to help fight the problem of porn in our society. </span></p> <p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The fourth session (April 12) will be an introduction to Theology of the Body by Dr John Hui from the Catholic Medical Guild. He will present the solution to the problem of pornography found in Pope John Paul II's teaching, which teaches the 'why's behind the Catholic Church's "strict rules" on sex and marriage, and explains how God can be found in our very nature as humans.<br /><br />We understand the possible apprehension faced by youths in attending such sessions alone, so we would like you to invite the youths that you know to come attend the sessions as a group. All of us are either part of the problem or part of the solution. Come find out how you can be the latter! Please spread this news as far as your network stretches.<br /><br />For more information, please email <a href="mailto:cana@catholiccentre.com.sg"> cana@catholiccentre.com.sg</a> or call 6336 4815.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-7725654991781348282007-01-29T03:12:00.000+08:002007-01-29T03:20:32.601+08:00"Are homosexuals welcome in the Catholic Church?” draws strong views<a fancytooltip="Permanent Link to “Are homosexuals welcome in the Catholic Church?” draws strong views" class="post-title" href="http://www.catholic.org.sg/cn/wordpress/?p=1273" rel="bookmark">“Are homosexuals welcome in the Catholic Church?” draws strong views </a><h2 class="post-title"> </h2> <!-- Print the time the article was posted --> <!-- <div class="post-time"></div> --> <div class="post-content"><p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >CatholicNews published part one of Father Albert Renckens’ reflection titled “Are homosexuals welcome in the Catholic Church?” in the last issue (CN, Jan 7). We have received many letters commenting on it. Here are some of them.</span></p> <p align="justify"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" > <a href="http://www.catholic.org.sg/cn/wordpress//?p=1267">Are we really ignorant?</a><br /><a href="http://www.catholic.org.sg/cn/wordpress//?p=1268">Priest’s view is disturbing</a><br /><a href="http://www.catholic.org.sg/cn/wordpress//?p=1269">Mixed feelings</a><br /><a href="http://www.catholic.org.sg/cn/wordpress//?p=1270">Shocked</a><br /><a href="http://www.catholic.org.sg/cn/wordpress//?p=1271">Not in line with church teaching</a><br /><a href="http://www.catholic.org.sg/cn/wordpress//?p=1272">More confident now in serving church</a></span></p><cite>Eugenia</cite> says: <br /> <div class="comment-metadata"> January 27th, 2007 at 9:16 pm </div> <!-- gravatar plugin - http://www.gravatar.com/plugins/wp_gravatar.zip --> <!-- gravatar plugin - end --> <p>I feel that Catholic News, as commissioned by the Archdiocese of Singapore, has the responsibilty to ensure doctrinally-sound publications. I ask of Catholics News to be extremely discerned and prudent when publishing articles written by people expressing their views on the Church’s doctrine. </p> <p>We, as Catholics, listen and accept the teachings of the Church. There is no room for debate when it comes to dogmatic doctrines i.e. the Truth. Please do not create the space for confusion.</p><p align="justify"></p><span style="font-style: italic;">Read the rest here: <a href="http://www.catholic.org.sg/cn/wordpress/?p=1273">http://www.catholic.org.sg/cn/wordpress/?p=1273</a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I'm too tired to even respond...</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><br />YawningBread has a commentary here: <a href="http://www.yawningbread.org/arch_2007/yax-706.htm">http://www.yawningbread.org/arch_2007/yax-706.htm</a><br />Dominic Chua has a response to these articles: <a href="http://www.yawningbread.org/apdx_2007/imp-299.htm"></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >It was with tremendous sadness and pain that I read the responses to Fr. Renckens’ article "Are Homosexuals welcome in the Catholic Church?" that were printed in the 21 Jan 2007 edition of the Catholic News. If anything, taken together, they constitute a resounding ‘no’ to the question posed by the title of Fr. Renckens’ original article.</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >It does not seem worthwhile to take each of the responses separately and respond to them in great detail. Rather, it is more important and more constructive to address the highly problematic mindset of intellectual and spiritual torpor and passivity that characterizes all the replies. Collectively, the letters reflect an unwillingness to engage the issue in and of itself, and bleat the same line if something is out of step with Catholic orthodoxy, it cannot and should not be voiced. Some of the responses take this one step further -- if the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (CDF) says that something is sinful and wrong, it must be so.</span></p></span><a href="http://www.yawningbread.org/apdx_2007/imp-299.htm">more: http://www.yawningbread.org/apdx_2007/imp-299.htm</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-12171034447945882332007-01-25T23:05:00.000+08:002008-12-11T12:56:43.762+08:00The Prompt is back with a bang!<span style="font-style: italic;">From the editors of The Prompt:<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBZk2nlIZZaQt_91xyMg5djYs4B_YlbJ8l5c9yqheGE0lGdxF0jMzD9JmsehgeCqUBauHI3u-6r5PTN3np5XIp9G33pb9K5Ns7mJKOVwmJWJxTqkfGDmI7cwYCoqitd-0UjQ-/s1600-h/promptmasthead.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBZk2nlIZZaQt_91xyMg5djYs4B_YlbJ8l5c9yqheGE0lGdxF0jMzD9JmsehgeCqUBauHI3u-6r5PTN3np5XIp9G33pb9K5Ns7mJKOVwmJWJxTqkfGDmI7cwYCoqitd-0UjQ-/s320/promptmasthead.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5023985012878906514" border="0" /></a>Dear friends,<br /><br />The Prompt is back with a bang! Three new, thought-provoking articles await you:<span><br /><br />* She's no Old Lady who Lived in the Shoe but mother-of-three Patricia Rozario-Tan still faces the Baby Inquisition!<br /><br /></span>* Young, Restless and Catholic - Part 1 in a series of 3 by Nick Chui that traces the turbulent and exhilarating early years of the Catholic Students' Society in the National University of Singapore.<br /><br />* Get thee to a nunnery? No need. Professor Donna Orsuto, a lecturer at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University, tells Nick Chui about authentic lay spirituality and what a 14th century Italian woman mystic can teach us about that. <span><br /><br /><a href="http://theprompt.faithweb.com/" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://theprompt.faithweb.com/</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Prompt</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Be Edified. Be Provoked. Be Prompted.</span><br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1164315242783677912006-11-24T04:53:00.000+08:002006-11-24T04:54:02.800+08:00Pornography and Sex Addiction: From Shame to HealingThe Colorado Catholic Herald ran a special section titled "Pornography and Sex Addiction: From Shame to Healing" on Nov 10. It is a 12-page long feature on the effect pornography and sex addiction is having on families, as well as some recommendations on dealing with and healing from the problem. The section was created, in large part, as a resource for parishes to use in bringing this issue to greater attention and as a means of helping someone towards healing and recovery.<br /><br />You can download the special section <a href="http://www.coloradocatholicherald.com/herald/SSsexadd.pdf">here</a>.<br /><br />I think it's great that a Catholic parish, regardless it being in the U.S., has dared to come forward and say openly that pornography and sex addiction is a real problem among Catholics, and to offer hope and healing for those addicted to sex. I hope something like this is possible here as well, since Singapore Catholics are not exempt from pornography and sex addiction.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1161319192656968902006-10-20T12:39:00.000+08:002006-10-20T12:39:52.676+08:00Wranglers vs StranglersWranglers vs Stranglers<br /><br /><u>by Ted Engstrom</u><br /><br />Years ago there was a group of brilliant young men at a midwestern university, who seemed to have amazing, creative literary talent. They were would-be poets, novelists, and essayists. They were extraordinary in their ability to put the English language to its best use. These promising young men met regularly to read and critique each other's work. And critique it they did!<br /><br />These men were merciless with one another. They dissected the smallest literary expression into a hundred pieces. They were heartless, touch, even mean in their criticism, but they thought they were bringing out each other's best work. Their sessions became such arenas of literary criticism that the members of this exclusive support group nicknamed themselves "The Stranglers".<br /><br />Not to be outdone, the university's women of literary talent were determined to start a support group of their own, one comparable to "The Stranglers". They called themselves "The Wranglers". They, too, read their works to one another, but there was one significant difference between the two groups. The criticism of "The Wranglers" was much softer, more positive, more encouraging. In fact sometimes there was almost no criticism at all. Every effort, even the most feeble attempt, was gleaned for some bit to be praised and encouraged. <br /><br />Twenty years later, the university's alumni office was doing an exhaustive study on the careers of its alumni, when it was noticed that there was a great difference in the literary accomplishments of "The Stranglers" as opposed to "The Wranglers". Of all the bright and talented young men in "The Stranglers", not one had made a significant literary accomplishment of any kind. From "The Wranglers" had come six or more successful writers, some attaining national reputation.<br /><br />Talent between the two? Probably the same. Level of education? Not much difference. But "The Stranglers" strangled, while "The Wranglers" were determined to give each other a boost. "The Stranglers" created an atmosphere of contention and self-doubt. "The Wranglers" highlighted the best, not the worst.<br /><br />******<br />The reason I am sharing this story with you is that I noticed that this blog attracts only men. When was the last time a woman visited the blog and made a comment or posted an article?<br /><br />As men, we like to argue with one another on the finest details. We look at a good post and pick out only the bad points and criticise them. Instead, we should be highlighting the good points and helped to boost one another.<br /><br />I believe that this is a way that this blog can grow and to be more open to the admission of women as well. It's not that this blog discriminates against women, but clearly we do not attract any female readers to share with us. <br /><br />I believe that this is something worth looking into, and that we can all try to focus on one another's good points raised in each post, rather than to "strangle" each other, for in doing so, we are also strangling each other's self-esteem and the progress of this blog.<br /><br />What do you think?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1161117169136705422006-10-18T04:29:00.000+08:002006-10-18T04:38:10.720+08:00A brief history of the MassI have been reading "The New Question Box" by Father John J. Dietzen, who has been answering questions with the <a href="http://www.catholicnews.com">Catholic News Service </a>for many years. This book is a compilation of frequently asked questions in the 1990s. Not much has changed since then, and I found a few interesting questions and answers which I want to share with you. <br /><br />The reason I choose to share this is because some of us Catholics like the "old Mass", but we choose to stop our preference at a particular point in history, rather than to go all the way back to how the Mass was celebrated before that point. So here is a brief history of the Mass and how it came to be what it is today.<br /><br /><blockquote>The church is not a museum, but the living, breathing body of Christ, and it has changed much. Many of our beliefs and practices developed and changed in varying degrees over the past 2,000 years.<br /><br />The same is true with the Mass. It has undergone hundreds of changes through the centuries. The form of the Mass most older Catholics grew up with was simply one of the many the church has experienced throughout its life.<br /><br />Our present ritual is, therefore, only one in a long series of "new Masses" in the church's history, though it has many more similarities to the "old Mass" of the early Christians than any other format the Mass has enjoyed during the last 1,000 years. <br /><br />During the first 15 centuries of the church's life, the Mass was not the same in all the churches. Especially in the first several centuries, the celebration of the Eucharist was just that - a celebration. Actions, words, music and whole atmosphere of the Mass were different according to who was there, the condition and circumstances of their lives, and so on.<br /><br />For a variety of reasons, the Mass gradually ceased being an event that the people participated in as members of the Body of the Risen Christ. It became rather a sacred ceremony carried out by the priest that the rest of the people were simply required to <em>watch</em> reverently.<br /><br />By the time of the Council of Trent in the 1500s, much of the early history of the Mass which we are aware of today had been completely lost. The bishops at that council, however, were faced with numerous attacks against the Mass and the Eucharist from leaders of the new Protestant Reformation. They understandably responded to these attacks by taking one form of the Mass - the form used in Rome at that time - and declaring it the <em>only</em> form of the Mass allowed in the Western Church. Every action an prayer was spelled out in minute detail. No options were offered. No variations were permitted.<br /><br />Long before the Second Vatican Council, church leaders were aware that this kind of frozen liturgy was blocking the growth of real liturgical prayer and worship and that something had to be done to loosen things up. The purpose wasn't variety for variety's sake. It was to enable people of different ages and times and temperaments and circumstances to make the Mass a genuine, living worship-celebration of their Christian life.<br /><br />Variations are now specifically allowed and suggested in the official instructions on the Mass. Numerous options for Scripture readings are offered. Several prayers or exhortations are accompanied with the notation that the priest should "use these, or similar words". Wide leeway is given in such things as music and actions. The Sign of Peace, for instance, is to be given "according to local custom". <br /><br />The Mass will always be the same in its essentials - the renewal of the offering which Jesus made to the Father on Calvary, and the Communion of his body and blood as the sign and source of the one Body of Christ. In other words, it will always be a sacrifice, and a sacred meal. <br /><br />Apart from these essentials, however, Eucharistic worship will depend on the culture, customs, language and temperaments of the people who offer it.<br /><br />Certain historical circumstances have caused most of us to think of the Mass as unchanging and "universal" in the wrong sense. Enormous and irreparable damage has been done to the cause of the church because of small-mindedness and short-sightedness in this matter. A few hundred years ago, for example, an imaginative missionary effort that might have brought all of China into Christianity collapsed because officials in Rome insisted on such things as that all Masses be in Latin, that priests must wear Western-style dress and vestments, and so on.<br /><br />This attitude, long in disrepute, was officially put down by Pope Pius XII. When the church attempts to call a people to a better way of life under the inspiration of the Christian religion, he said in one of his encyclicals, "she does not act like one who recklessly cuts down and uproots a thriving forest. She grafts good stock upon the wood so that it may bear even better fruit." The policy of using anything in local cultures, even religious customs, that can conceivably be meshed with Christian beliefs is now well established.<br /><br />When you are present for a Mass that is different than you're used to, why not relax, try to get into the spirit of it and share in it as well as you can? A little giving in, and trying to share what others are feeling could be a real act of charity towards those around you as well as to yourself.<br /><br />- compiled from "The New Question Box - Catholic Life for the Nineties" by John J. Dietzen, Guildhall Publishers</blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1160977726818501432006-10-16T13:41:00.000+08:002006-10-16T13:48:46.820+08:00Taking off shoes: What to do?!Last Sunday at mass, the uncle beside me took off his sandals and then placed them on the kneeling board. He crossed his legs slightly so that his foot was rather close to me and very visible. I was very uncomfortable as I did not think it was proper to take off your shoes in church, but yet, I did not know what to say to him. This is further complicated by the fact that properly we are supposed to remove our shoes in a house of worship...<br /><br />What do you think I should have done or said? What would <span style="font-style: italic;">you </span>have said?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1160977297861041792006-10-16T12:29:00.000+08:002006-10-16T13:41:37.863+08:00Update about this blogHi everyone.<br /><br />The initial intent of this blog was not to be a discussion forum, but to be a base of writing - writing that has an element of outreach and education. If you think a discussion forum is a better medium, then one could be set up quite easily. E.g: <a href="http://www.livingstones-online.org/forum/">http://www.livingstones-online.org/forum/</a> Let me know what you think.<br /><br />I have decided to move this blog to Wordpress. We will move as soon as I update the posts and write a new introduction to the blog.<br /><br />There is a new direction that I believe this blog can take. I have not the energy to share it at the moment.. please ask me personally if you are interested for the time being...<br /><br />ChrisUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1160971455103819782006-10-16T11:10:00.000+08:002006-10-16T12:04:15.260+08:00Holy Spirit and SermonsI would like to start another thread of discussion. Is the spread of the Gospel of God dependent on the people, or will it spread by itself? <br /><br />Secondly, does the Holy Spirit comes upon us only through some experience like Life in the Spirit Seminar or through some form of camps or talks?<br /><br />The reason I present these questions is because I question the lacklustre way in which most priests give homilies, sermons and talks. If our reaction to the Gospel is dependent on faith (gift of the Holy Spirit) then surely any priest or speaker who tries to spread the Gospel in any form (interesting or boring) would be able to touch the listener. <br /><br />But in reality, with the influx of experience with good speakers in our workplace and professional seminars, when we are exposed to entertaining speakers, would such mediocre homilies be able to touch the masses? And can the church or church groups facilitate the touching of the Holy Spirit? Other than the socalled LISS experience, surely there are no outward expression of the Holy Spirit, except through Confirmation. <br /><br />What I am trying to get through here is, the church's primary objective is to spread the gospel and to go forth and baptise people in Jesus' name. I wonder if the church is properly doing that. I agree that the priests are doing a very good job in offering a physical church for people to pray and also to administer the sacraments when needed, but are they doing a proper job in offering us the Gospel? Indeed, we should be the one who evangelise and bring people into Church. However, that's all we can do. Being the steward of the Church, the masses are drawn or push away by what they receive from the priests. They are the "professionals", if they are not doing their jobs, then I think there is only that much we laypeople can do. <br /><br />From my experiences with priests, they refuse to acknowledge the fact that people look upon them especially in spiritual guidance and knowledge. In fact the best time to evangelise and strengthen the beliefs of the congregation is through homilies in mass. But alas, they often give a slipshod effort with this opportunity. But I qualify, I'm speaking about the older priests who don't even prepare their homilies but speak off-the-cuff. <br /><br />Whatver the case, can people also comment if priests are already doing all they can, what do you think we laypeople should do to compliment the priests? Please share non-cliche activities like joining groups or living the gospel by being a good Christian.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1156576655307044042006-10-10T15:16:00.000+08:002007-01-25T11:09:02.683+08:00Suggestions for the Veritas website<div style="font-family: arial;"> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Ok. Here are my suggestions for the Veritas website.</p><br />The Veritas website currently:<br /><br /><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Pros:</p> <ul><li><span> <span> </span></span>The website provides a comprehensive list of parishes, communities, and organizations (etc.) </li><li><span> <span> </span></span>The search engine is working well</li><li><span> <span> </span></span>Most of the links are usable</li></ul> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p></div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:12;" ></span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Cons:</span><div style="font-family: arial;"> <ul><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Nothing more that an online church directory.</li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Some information is outdated.</li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The presentation is staid and does not give a good impression.</li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">There is no central direction by the archdiocese.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Suggestions:</span> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </p><span><span style="font-style: italic;">Step 1: </span>Decide if you want Veritas to be the Official Website of the Catholic church here, or if it should just be the Official Online Church Directory of the Catholic church.</span><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><br /></span></p><span>1)<span> If you decide that the website should be an official website, then some money should be raised privately (if the church is not willing to invest in it) to hire a professional web design company, or some relevantly experienced person, to redesign the look of the website. </span></span><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><br /></span></p><span>2)<span> In this website, i</span></span>nclude some general information about the Catholic church in Singapore.<br /><br />E.g.<br />- General information about the Catholic faith and Christianity in general.<br />- Information about the Catholic Church in Singapore, such as its structure, organisation, mission, activities, agencies, history, etc.<br />- Information about the RCIA programme, and more direct information about how and where to join.<br /><br />-or-<br /><br />3) It could be a simple front page that links to all the various websites of the Catholic church in Singapore.<br /><br />In other words, if you want it to be a website , then make it a website that caters to the people who might want to view it - people interested in the Catholic Faith, non-Catholics and Catholics who are searching alike. This is a one-time process as it does not require major updating or maintenance subsequently.<br /><br />The Church Directory function of the current Veritas can still be part of this website. If you decide that it should not be a website but only a Church Directory, then rename the website as an Official Church Directory.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Suggestions for the Church Directory part:</span><br /><br />3) Coordinate with the team that publishes the church directory. Information from the publication can be updated to the website . Information will thus be at most one-year old. (This can be done by setting up a computer database)<br /><br />4) Send out an annual or bi-annual email to all the emails on the database kindly asking for their cooperation in keeping the Online Church Directory up-to-date. Emails that are not replied to can then be considered unusable and should be removed.<br /><br /><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">These are just a few simple suggestions that I believe quite feasible and helpful. I don't see why they cannot be done if people believe in the usefulness and function of the Veritas website. Please share you comments and thoughts on the matter.<br /></p></div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:12;" ><br /></span> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: arial;"> -------------</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;font-family:arial;"><br />Here are the previous posts related to the Veritas Website:</p><p face="arial" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></p><p face="arial" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Websites of the Catholic Church in Singapore:</span><br /></p><p face="arial" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2006/08/websites-of-catholic-church.html">http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2006/08/websites-of-catholic-church.html</a></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comparing the Veritas website:</span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"><a href="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2006/07/comparethe-veritas-website.html">http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2006/07/comparethe-veritas-website.html</a></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Some background:</span><br /></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;">I've been using the Veritas website every once in a while to check on addresses and contacts of churches and priests. More than once, the email or contact number of the priest I tried to contact was inaccurate. I also felt a lingering sense of embarrassment each time I visited. It's like walking past a very badly designed poster advertising the Catholic Church and wondering what kind of impression others would have when they walked by and saw it. (*Note: I really appreciate and honour the work the volunteers have put into the website, but this is a real and honest opinion). When Nicholas one day complained to me about the website, and I happened to see the St Mary's website, I decided to ask others to compare the websites and to garner their opinions.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"><span>I wanted to know if others were similarly embarrased as Nick and me, and to figure out what can be done about it. We felt that the fundamental problem was the inability of the church administration to see that there was a need to project a good "corporate image" to the general public. If other churches and other organisations could maintain a professional and informative website, why couldn't we? Part of the issue here was that the website was maintained by volunteers, and received no funding. This led to a discussion on why the church needs sometimes to pay for professional services. Volunteers ultimately cannot produce the same results that a dedicated professional can.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"><span>The Veritas discussion led to many lessons for me:</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"><br /><span></span></p><ol style="font-family: arial;"><li><span> The local archdiocese does not believe that a professional "corporate image" is important. We should work to change this.</span></li><li><span>The local archdiocese does not want to invest in professional services as it still believes in the spirit of volunteerism. Laypeople should provide the willpower, direction, and funding to move in this direction if they believe in it.<br /></span></li><li><span>It is not enough to complain on this blog. We need to make real changes by contacting people and doing something about it.</span></li><li><span>This blog has limited function and appeal. We should do something about it</span></li></ol><span style="font-family:arial;">Perhaps you may wish to reflect on these points as well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Sincerely,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Chris</span><br /><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;"> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1160412692197176892006-10-10T00:28:00.000+08:002006-10-10T00:51:32.470+08:00What makes a Youth Mass?I've been to a few so-called youth mass, and I have a few thoughts and questions in my mind which I hope readers can comment and give me some valuable insights.<br /><br />First of all, how do we make the distinction between a normal mass and a youth mass?<br /><br />Secondly, what is Liturgically acceptable in a youth mass, musically and other aspects if any.<br /><br />Thirdly, has anyone gone for any of such masses, and do you have any thoughts?<br /><br />After going for those masses, I sincerely believe our church is not reaching out adequately to the youths. I see youths talking and zoning out during mass and especially during homily liken any talk given by their teachers. I look at, or rather listen to the awkward guitars and drums trying to play our traditional church songs and how its disturbing the serenity of a mass.<br /><br />But how does the church make themselves relevant to the youths? How does it attract the youths who are just bored by the slow mass? Telling them that its important to spend time with the Lord and consuming His Body and Blood is important is just not convincing enough anymore.<br /><br />Please share with me your thoughts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1160368372230432052006-10-09T12:30:00.000+08:002006-10-09T12:32:52.250+08:00Gregorian Chant in October<tt> +J.M.J+<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mass with Gregorian Chant</span></span><br />St Luke, Apostle, Evangelist<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" >18 October, Wednesday</span><br />St Teresa's Church<br />8 pm.<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Liturgy of the Hours</span></span><br />Vespers and Compline<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >22 October, Sunday</span><br />Adoration Chapel @ Church of Sts Peter and Paul<br />8 pm.<br /><br />Translations are provided for all events.<br /></tt>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1159372898503312922006-09-27T23:33:00.000+08:002006-09-28T02:47:13.733+08:00Pope's remarks on IslamDon't really have a proper commentary on this, but it seems that the recent incident of Pope Benedict's remarks on Islam is a positive demonstration of how we should handle matters that arise now and then in the public sphere. Bro. Micheal Broughton gave a very lucid and exemplary interview to the CatholicNews, which was reprinted by the TODAY newspaper. The CatholicNews should also be commended for coming out very quickly with a full spread of articles relating to the matter, the interview of course, as well as the Pope's full speech. Best of all, the archibishop issued a public statement, read at all churches, stating publicly our sincerity and apology. In my view, this whole affair was dealt with promptly, appropriately, gracefully, professionally. Well done. Let's pray that future affairs may be handled as such.<br /><br />In fact, the pope's words seem to reflect a growing need for us to engage the public sphere, i.e. the rest of the word. His invitation to Muslim leaders, but more so his very initial words show that he is not afraid to speak out and take a stand on issues. Thus, there is a need for us to not shy away from the media but to learn how to use it effectively to engage others.<br /><br />The pope's remarks are controversial, but thought-provoking. Fundamentally, it is a call to reason, or rather, a call to connect our faith and reason. Indeed, it is my belief that a lot of the worlds ills are caused by today's faithful disregarding reason, and today's thinkers disregarding faith. This is a rather deep point that maybe some of us can reflect upon. Have you thought and understood enough about your faith and the world?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1158754627231171402006-09-20T20:12:00.000+08:002006-09-20T20:17:07.276+08:00This Blog is in Desperate Need of Spiritual Direction!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:lucida grande;" >This blog is in desperate need of spiritual direction.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:lucida grande;" >Please pray for us. </span><br /><br />(and leave your comments if you have any)<br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Some links to ponder:</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://catholicwriter.wordpress.com/">http://catholicwriter.wordpress.com/</a><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://theprompt.faithweb.com/">http://theprompt.faithweb.com/</a><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.catholic.org.sg/">http://www.catholic.org.sg/</a><br /><a href="http://nuscssalumni.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://nuscssalumni.wordpress.com/</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1158130490594498022006-09-13T14:46:00.000+08:002006-09-13T15:02:03.930+08:00Gregorian Chant in September<span style="font-size:130%;">+J.M.J+<br /><br />21 September 2006</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:150%;">Feast of St Matthew</span><br />Mass with Gregorian Chant<br /><br />8 pm<br />Church of St Teresa<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">24 September 2006</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:150%;">25th Sunday in Ordinary Time</span><br />Vespers and Compline<br /><br />8 pm<br />Adoration Room<br />Church of Sts Peter and Paul<br /><br />Translations are provided for all events.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1157824751812930562006-09-10T01:56:00.000+08:002006-09-10T01:59:11.830+08:00Should the Catholic Church employ more professional laypersons?One of the issues brought up in a previous post was that the Catholic Church should attract more professionals by offering them a higher pay. I would like to address this issue, as suggested by Chris, by bringing it up in a separate post.<br /><br />FIRSTLY, the Catholic Church does employ a good number of people already, some with years (or decades) of experience in their field, often a very specific field, such as in pastoral care. Many of the people employed in the Catholic Church have a job scope that is specific towards the Catholic Church's needs, and there are very few people who meet those qualifications, regardless of their job experience in the secular world.<br /><br />For example, if the diocese is looking for a highly qualified catechist, it would not offer an attractive pay even if its applicants are former teachers and lecturers of many years of experience, simply because while their experience in the secular world is of some use, they lack the specificity required in that particular job. <br /><br />It is more than a mere job switch, it is closer to a career switch, since the aim, regardless of the job, tends to be quite different. As such, why should the Church pay a professional an attractive pay, if his profession is not exactly what the Church is looking for? Using the example of catechist, only one who has been trained in the specific field of catechism deserves such a pay. <br /><br />SECONDLY, I certainly do believe that the majority of Church employees are already receiving a reasonable pay. If not, how would they be able to survive this long in such a job? Furthermore, how many Church employees have left their job solely because they are not being paid enough? None that I know of. Can anyone give a figure?<br /><br />In the secular world, it would seem that many people never seem satisfied with their pay. People often leave their job for another because of a higher pay. <br /><br />Some questions raised on this issue are:<br /><br />- Is working in the Church just another job?<br />- How much does one consider a reasonable pay? <br />- Could one do with a lower pay by cutting down on unnecessary forms of expenditure, for example?<br /><br />If insufficient pay really is the issue that makes working in the Church unattractive to some people, then I would say the reason for wanting to work in the Church is somewhat questionable. After all, what Church employees are paid is already reasonable, as shown in their length of employment. What may be a reasonable pay to some may be too low for others, but this is a subjective matter. Church employees have and still show that the Church does provide for them reasonably well.<br /><br />THIRDLY and perhaps most importantly, a professional layperson is more valuable to the Church by being a Christian where he is in the professional world, than by being working in the Church. The laity is the front line of the Church in the world. If he is indeed a professional and good at what he does, then he will definitely do more good out there than working in the Church.<br /><br />In an ideal situation, positions within the Catholic Church should be filled up by religious and priests. These minister to the laity, who in turn carry out the work of evangelisation. But we are not in an ideal situation, and we have far too few religious and priests, hence the need to hire laity to fill up roles that should rightfully be filled by the religious and priests. <br /><br />The professionals, by virtue of their capabilities, belong in the secular world where they do the Church the most good there. This is, after all, the mission of the laity. <br /><br />IN SUMMARY, the points are:<br /><br />1. Lack of specificity in profession does not justify an attractive pay.<br /><br />2. Using a higher pay to attract better workers raises the question of motive of working in the Church. <br /><br />3. The mission of the laity is to be a Christian in the world. Professionals, by virtue of their capability, do the most good for the Church in the secular world.<br /><br />What are your thoughts on this?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1157520447759531142006-09-06T13:21:00.000+08:002006-09-06T13:29:52.073+08:00Singapore - The Malay Archipelago - Alfred Russell Wallace<p>I was reading <a href="http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/w/wallace/alfred_russel/malay/chapter2.html">this chapter on Singapore</a> written by Lord Alfred Russell Wallace (Yes, the compatriot of Charles Darwin) who was in Singapore around 1854, and there was a quaint little entry about St. Joseph's Church! It would be lovely to get my hands on the recently published book about the history of the church in Singapore. Does anyone know the title and where to get it? Anway, click on the link above to read the whole of Wallace's chapter.<br /></p><p></p><blockquote><p>In the interior of the island the Chinese cut down forest trees in the jungle, and saw them up into planks; they cultivate vegetables, which they bring to market; and they grow pepper and gambir, which form important articles of export. The French Jesuits have established missions among these inland Chinese, which seem very successful. I lived for several weeks at a time with the missionary at Bukit-tima, about the centre of the island, where a pretty church has been built and there are about 300 converts. While there, I met a missionary who had just arrived from Tonquin, where he had been living for many years. The Jesuits still do their work thoroughly as of old. In Cochin China, Tonquin, and China, where all Christian teachers are obliged to live in secret, and are liable to persecution, expulsion, and sometimes death, every province—even those farthest in the interior—has a permanent Jesuit mission establishment constantly kept up by fresh aspirants, who are taught the languages of the countries they are going to at Penang or Singapore. In China there are said to be near a million converts; in Tonquin and Cochin China, more than half a million. One secret of the success of these missions is the rigid economy practised in the expenditure of the funds. A missionary is allowed about £30. a year, on which he lives in whatever country he may be. This renders it possible to support a large number of missionaries with very limited means; and the natives, seeing their teachers living in poverty and with none of the luxuries of life, are convinced that they are sincere in what they teach, and have really given up home and friends and ease and safety, for the good of others. No wonder they make converts, for it must be a great blessing to the poor people among whom they labour to have a man among them to whom they can go in any trouble or distress, who will comfort and advise them, who visits them in sickness, who relieves them in want, and who they see living from day-today in danger of persecution and death—entirely for their sakes.</p> <p>My friend at Bukit-tima was truly a father to his flock. He preached to them in Chinese every Sunday, and had evenings for discussion and conversation on religion during the week. He had a school to teach their children. His house was open to them day and night. If a man came to him and said, “I have no rice for my family to eat today,” he would give him half of what he had in the house, however little that might be. If another said, “I have no money to pay my debt,” he would give him half the contents of his purse, were it his last dollar. So, when he was himself in want, he would send to some of the wealthiest among his flock, and say, “I have no rice in the house,” or “I have given away my money, and am in want of such and such articles.” The result was that his flock trusted and loved him, for they felt sure that he was their true friend, and had no ulterior designs in living among them.</p><p>The island of Singapore consists of a multitude of small hills, three or four hundred feet high, the summits of many of which are still covered with virgin forest. The mission-house at Bukit-tima was surrounded by several of these wood-topped hills, which were much frequented by woodcutters and sawyers, and offered me an excellent collecting ground for insects. Here and there, too, were tiger pits, carefully covered over with sticks and leaves, and so well concealed, that in several cases I had a narrow escape from falling into them. They are shaped like an iron furnace, wider at the bottom than the top, and are perhaps fifteen or twenty feet deep so that it would be almost impossible for a person unassisted to get out of one. Formerly a sharp stake was stuck erect in the bottom; but after an unfortunate traveller had been killed by falling on one, its use was forbidden. There are always a few tigers roaming about Singapore, and they kill on an average a Chinaman every day, principally those who work in the gambir plantations, which are always made in newly-cleared jungle. We heard a tiger roar once or twice in the evening, and it was rather nervous work hunting for insects among the fallen trunks and old sawpits when one of these savage animals might be lurking close by, awaiting an opportunity to spring upon us.</p></blockquote><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1156949850622122692006-08-30T22:53:00.000+08:002006-08-30T22:57:30.630+08:001 Corinthians 9<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >In an earlier post, Mark mentioned this passage, so I thought I'd just put it up as a reflection piece...:</span><br /></div><h4 style="font-family: verdana;">1 Corinthians 9</h4> <h5 style="font-family: verdana;">The Rights of an Apostle </h5><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. </span><p style="font-family: verdana;"> <span>3</span>This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. <span>4</span>Don't we have the right to food and drink? <span> 5</span>Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas<sup>[<a title="See footnote a" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20cor%209&version=31#fen-NIV-28530a" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"> <span style="color:#800080;">a</span></a>]</sup>? <span>6</span>Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living? </p><p style="font-family: verdana;"> <span>7</span>Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? <span> 8</span>Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? <span>9</span>For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." <sup>[<a title="See footnote b" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20cor%209&version=31#fen-NIV-28534b" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"><span style="color:#800080;">b</span></a>]</sup> Is it about oxen that God is concerned? <span> 10</span>Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. <span> 11</span>If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? <span>12</span>If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? </p><p style="font-family: verdana;"> But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. <span>13</span>Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? <span>14</span>In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. </p><p style="font-family: verdana;"> <span>15</span>But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast. <span>16</span>Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! <span>17</span>If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. <span>18</span>What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it. </p><p style="font-family: verdana;"> <span>19</span>Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. <span>20</span>To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. <span>21</span>To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. <span> 22</span>To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. <span>23</span>I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. </p><p style="font-family: verdana;"> <span>24</span>Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. </p><p style="font-family: verdana;"> 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1156949530000429392006-08-30T22:47:00.000+08:002006-08-30T23:04:55.583+08:00Church sued over 'exorcism'<blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Church sued over 'exorcism'</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Woman claims damages for trauma of alleged exorcism by two priests and helpers at Novena Church</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Wednesday • August 30, 2006</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">— Channel NewsAsia</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">NOVENA Church, two priests and seven helpers are being sued for an alleged act of exorcism, in an incident believed to have taken place two years ago.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Ms Amutha Valli Krishnan, 50, an athlete in the 1980s, claimed that attempts to exorcise her later led to chronic post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. A writ of summons was served last Thursday.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In the writ, Ms Amutha Valli claimed that on August 10, 2004, she went to Novena Church to pray with her son, daughter and a close friend. She fainted while she was there.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">She is alleging that two priests from the church, Father Simon Tan and Father Jacob Ong, claimed she had been possessed by a spirit, and then performed an act of exorcism, helped by seven others.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The ritual is said to have lasted two-and-a-half hours, during which time Ms Amutha Valli claimed she had resisted furiously. She claimed she was strangled, pinned down and verbally abused.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">When contacted, Father Tan claimed Ms Amutha Valli did not faint in church. In fact, he said, she had walked in asking for help, saying she was possessed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Father Tan also denied any act of exorcism. He said he, Father Ong and seven helpers only said prayers over her.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Ms Amutha Valli's claims against the defendants include trespass, assault, false imprisonment and negligence. She is also asking for damages for loss of income and injuries.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Mr Suppiah Jeyabal, her husband, said: "Before, she was an athlete and ... a very tough person, you know, who (liked) to exercise; she must run and exercise. She also used to coach children — a very tough and active person.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"But now, she's more like a vegetable."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">A medical report by a Changi General Hospital psychiatrist states that Ms Amutha Valli's symptoms — which are persistent, severe and extremely disabling —- are a direct result of the traumatic incident she experienced at the church.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">According to the report, this has affected her ability to cope with self-care, demands at home and relationships with family members. The doctor added that she would require long-term treatment and follow-up, and is unlikely to fully recover.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Ms Amutha Valli's lawyer said it is still too early to comment, but he believed this is the first such case in Singapore.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The lawyer for the defendants says his clients deny liability and will file their defence by Sept 16. The civil suit is estimated to cost at least $1 million.</span><br /></blockquote><br /><br />Just incidentally, last Sunday's papers quoted a Novena priest describing an exorcism in which a very shy girl suddenly having immense strength. Are priests allowed to share such things?<br /><br />Back to this case, the Church takes exorcisms extremely seriously, so I doubt that the priests would have performed an exorcism so wantonly. Also, I don't see any reason that the priests should lie. However, there is enough evidence to say that something happened, and that this lady suffered for it. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Did the priests do something wrongly? Is this women a pathelogical liar? Will people be afraid to go the Novena Church now?<br /><br />With the Catholic Church being in the public limelight yet again, I do hope that we do nothing to affect our public image negatively, and I do hope that we actually put a positive light to this sorry incident. It is times like this where I wonder if the church should have a full time publicist. I hope that the evidence reassures the public that we do not abuse and exorcise people like so, and I also hope that the women receives fair recourse and all the help that she needs. Even if the church wins this case, which it should I think, it must be careful not to come across as having condemned this women as a madwomen and putting her down just as a liar.<br /><br />In my view, the church has not given a good account of itself in the public eye in recent times. There was the vague response to the tsunami. There was silence on the Nguyen (btw, there is another drug trafficker due for execution) and casino issues when other churches were more clear on their stances. The Da Vinci Code has surely damaged some opinion, and the Joaquim Kang case got a lot of publicity, but scarcely a squeak from the church. Through it all, I do feel that a normal person will just be that slight bit less inclined to find out about the church and know Christ through all the negative perceptions in the public eye. To do justice to our faith, we need to project a good impression of our faith.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1156602927570872762006-08-26T22:16:00.000+08:002006-08-26T22:38:08.663+08:00Why do our young men choose to go overseas to become priests?Nelsoh Quah, in the Sept 3rd issue of the Catholic News asks:<br /><br /><blockquote>... Some pertinent questions which have been recurring in the minds of many Catholics are: Why do our young men today choose to make personal sacrifices to go overseas and become religious society priests? Why are they not interested in going to the local seminary and becoming diocesan priests?<br /><br />Perhaps, it is time for the local chuch authority and some relevant organization to do some soul-searching to search for the right answers. Catholics should pray that the Lord of the Harvest will reveal the answers to them.</blockquote>Of course, a very easy answer would be that God is calling them overseas and not here, and maybe because they feel blessed to live in Singapore and want to serve elsewhere. However, Mr Quah is not really hiding the fact that he knows what the real reason is. It is that the archodiocese is not being professional enough and thus not attracting the right people...<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Please </span>do not respond if you don't know the meaning of constructive criticism.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15