Sept 2013 - five - abbey

27. Marian Day to be held at Vatican in October
"Blessed are you for believing" is the theme of the Marian Day to be held in the Vatican in October in the presence of Pope Francis and all the associations of Marian spirituality. The October 12-13 event organized by the Vicariate of Rome and sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, is part of the celebrations of the Year of Faith.
The date 13 Oct. coincides with the anniversary of the last apparition of the Blessed Virgin at Fatima, who appeared for the sixth and final time to the three shepherd children – Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta at Cova da Iria, Portugal in 1917. Soon after, there was the so-called "miracle of the sun" the solar disc changed color, size and position for about ten minutes. In memory of this date, therefore, the original statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be brought to St. Peter's Square and exposed to the veneration of the faithful. The highlight of the two-day event will be a pilgrimage to the tomb of Peter and the Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square .

28. Report: Jesuit kidnapped in Syria was meeting with rebel forces
This silence regarding the fate of the Jesuit Fr. Paolo Dall'Oglio, who disappeared about a month ago in the area of Raqqa, generates fear and concern in the Christian community and in Syrian society. As reported to Fides Agency, the youth of the "Free Youth Committee" in Raqqa, linked to the Syrian opposition, continue the research, in a very tense situation.  The Jesuit had gone to Raqqa at the end of July, coming from the border of Tell Abiad, with the help of Kurdish fighters. His purpose, according to local sources, was to try to smooth out the contrasts between Kurdish and Arab fighters and rebuild a certain unity within the Syrian opposition. A delicate mission and for some too difficult. The conquest of Raqqa by the forces of opposition to the regime, which took place in March 2013, had been accomplished thanks to a local sheik, Mouhammad Faycal al Houeidi, leader of the "Avadilat" tribe, a great Arab tribe present in Raqqa with strong links with the Saudi Kingdom. The sheikh was a member of Parliament who managed to make Raqqa "the first independent city of the Syrian revolution". The conquest of the city by the Free Syrian Army, FSA took place, however, thanks to the contribution of the group "Jabhat al-Nusra Front", later renamed "Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham ". Fr. Paolo arrived in the city in a very intricate situation, in which there were at least three forces in open conflict with each other. And he tried, refer the young people, "to establish a line of communication with the Islamist militia".
Between 29 July and 5 August, the day of his disappearance, violent clashes took place in Raqqa causing deaths and injuries among the guerrillas of the FSA and members of Islamist groups, a sign of strong tensions between anti-regime factions.The "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" had agreed to talk with Fr. Paolo. But the basic idea, that of establishing an Islamic state, remains an area of rift between the Islamists and the FSA. The last time Fr. Paolo was seen officially was when he participated in a banquet with the sheikh of the Avadilat tribe, Mouhammad Faycal Al Houeidi, to talk about these issues and to try to establish some form of negotiation. In previous days, however, the Jesuit had participated in a demonstration of the youth of the FSA in which he praised the revolution and its ideals. For this reason he may have been watched by the same Islamist factions. According to some, it seems he has been taken to a place called Akarsheh, 20 km from Raqqa. "We know with certainty that Fr. Paolo is in serious danger", say the young people of Raqqa.

29. Catholic priest honored for working for missing children

The director of BoscoNet Fr. M.C. George Menamparampil has been conferred with the IMAAN INDIA SAMMAN award for working for missing children and their families on Aug. 17 in New Delhi.
The Convener of Imaan India Samman Bhuvnesh (Gaurav) Ahuja in the letter sent to the priest stated that he has been nominated for his commitment towards the upliftment of those in need and creating a software- HOMELINK- especially made with the purpose to help Missing Children & their families.
Fr. Menamparampil said, “I feel humbled by this great gesture of to honor my organization (BoscoNet, and Don Bosco) and me for our efforts to of some service to the people of our nation, particularly the young and the children, and among the these, in a special way, the weak and vulnerable. I take this as an opportunity to highlight further, before the Government, NGOs and the general public, the plight of the more disadvantaged among us,” he said.
The Imaan India awards in 11 categories were established in 2012 by Aavishkar Media Group, a prominent name in Indian Broadcasting, Media & CATV Industry since 1993 with the aim of recognizing and celebrating the challenging work of those people who are catalyst in social reforms and striving to bring a significant change in community and society.
Born in Kerala, Fr. Menamparampil dedicated his life to the service of the disadvantaged peoples of North East India. He spent 22 years in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan. He founded BOSCONET which concentrates on raising funds from generous hearted Indians to support marginalized communities.

30. Nepali PM calls young people to follow the Catholic example

Nepal’s Interim Prime Minister Khilaraj Regmi celebrated the International Youth Day on Monday (12 Aug.) by praising the Christian sense of dedication. Young Catholics "show us various ways to serve the nation. They are an example to follow, especially now that our country is in a time of change,” the prime minister said speaking on television. "They do a lot for everyone and are not after money. They are to be imitated," he added.
The Prime Minister cited the case of Pushpa Basnet, (Pictured below) who in 2012 won the CNN Hero Award. Her work in support of prisoners "was born from the teachings received in Catholic schools," he said. Basnet studied at St Xavier College in the capital.







Fr Lawrence Maniyar, former Jesuit superior in Nepal said "Our educational work has played an important role for young people and their future. Several pioneers in the social field have studied with us. We greatly appreciate the words of the prime minister," he added.
Despite threats and attacks suffered in recent years, including the terrible attack against Kathmandu cathedral, Nepal's Catholic community has grown in the recent past. Today it can count on 7,000 members, or approximately 0.45 per cent of the population. Its work, especially in the educational field, is known and respected throughout the country. In 2011, the government made Christmas a national holiday, allowing Christian processions and events in which hundreds of people of other faiths participate each year.

31. Sri Lankan Catholic singing duo, forgives attackers
"We have decided to forgive in the name of Jesus Christ, who gave his life for us to enjoy the beauty of life," said Rookantha and Chandraleka of Sri Lanka, who consciously forgave those who "deprived them of their material wealth but certainly not of their faith in Christ.Devout Catholics, the two popular veteran singers moved to the United States from Sri Lanka after they were attacked at home on 26 January 2000. Now, years later, they finally have justice. On 1 August, a court handed down long sentences to their attackers. Notwithstanding the value of earthly justice and a desire for compensation, what matters for the Catholic couple is the supreme value of forgiveness.
A dozen officers of the President's Security Division (PSD) carried out a "political vendetta" against them and their family in January 2000, storming their home in Mattegoda, a Colombo suburb. During the raid, they threatened to "destroy everything." At the time, Chandrika Bandaranayaka was Sri Lanka's president.
Before getting away with the family jewels, precious objects, a car and a large amount of cash, the PSD officers doused the husband and wife duo with petrol, threatening to set them on fire, shaving Chandraleka's hair, all this in front of the couple's two children aged 8 and 2 ½ years. The violent raid was carried out because the popular duo were sympathisers of the main opposition party, the United National Party (UNP).
After 13 years, the High Court in Panadura convicted ten people, all members of the PSD. Nine of them got four years and six months of hard labour, plus financial compensation for the victims. The tenth member of the group, who is now disabled, was given four years and six months in prison. Notwithstanding the verdict or the suffering and fears they endured, the Sri Lankan Catholic couple said that they have forgiven the raid's perpetrators.

"We do not wish them to suffer," they told AsiaNews, "but we respect and welcome the court's decision, even 13 years after the facts." For Rookantha and Chandraleka, forgiveness is found in "the Word and in the teachings of Jesus who, on the cross, said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do". "Forgiveness in the case of a serious act is true forgiveness and we do so as Christians," they said.
"After the attack, along with our children, we knelt and prayed. We asked God to give us the strength to 'drink the bitter cup' and move on."

32. Pope approves new auxiliary bishop for Syro-Malabar Church
Pope Francis on Friday August 23, approved the election of an Auxiliary Bishop to the Major Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, the headquarters of the eastern rite Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, in southern India’s Kerala state. The Syro-Malabar Synod elected Fr. Jose Puthenveettil, the Pro-Vicar General of the Archdiocese as the New Auxilary Bishop of the Archdiocese, headed by Major Archbishop, Cardinal George Alencherry, the head of the Syro-Malabar Church that has some 4 million faithful. Unlike in the Latin rite Church, where the Pope directly appoints bishops, the Code of Canons of Oriental Churches grants the synod of eastern churches the power to elect their own bishops and church heads, which the Pope approves. Bishop-elect, Fr. Jose Puthenveettil succeeds Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Chakiath, who has retired on reaching the age of 75.

India’s Catholic Church is a communion of three ritual Churches: the Latin, the Syro-Malabar and the Syro-Malankara, which together make up the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, the apex body of the Church in the country.

Auxiliary Bishop-elect, Fr. Jose Puthenveettil was born on April 4, 1961 in the parish of St. George’s Forane Church, Edappally in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly as the third of the eight children of Mr. Devassy and Mary Puthenveettil. After his school education at St. George’s H.S. Edappally, Young Jose Puthenveettil had his priestly formation for three years (1977-1980) in the Sacred Heart Minor Seminary, Thrikkakara and for seven years (1980-1987) in St. Joseph’s Interdiocesan Seminary, Mangalore. On 26 December 1987 Cardinal Antony Padiyara, the then Archbishop of Ernakulam, ordained him priest at St. George’s Forane Church, Edappally, for the Archdiocese of Ernakulam. After the ordination Fr. Jose served the archdiocese as assistant vicar at St. Mary’s Forane Church, Kanjoor (1988-1990) and then as the Secretary to Mar Antony Cardinal Padiyara (1990-1992). Rev. Fr. Jose had his higher education at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium and took doctorate in Theology. His doctoral thesis is entitled as “Common and Ministerial Priesthood. A Critical Textual Hermeneutics in the Light of ‘Tria Munera’, ‘In Persona Christi’, and ‘Diakonia’ with Special Reference to ‘Christifideles Laici’ and ‘Pastores Dabo Vobis’.
After having returned to India he served as parish priest of St. Augustine’s Church, Thuravoor North (1998-1999) and St. Mary’s Church, Mookkannoor (1999). From 1999 to 2000 he served as assistant director and dean of studies of Niveditha, Institute for Religious Formation and Fellowship at Chunangamvely and during the same period he was assistant at St. Joseph’s Church, Chunangamvely and in that capacity he also took care of St. Pius Xth Church, Choondy. He had been professor of systematic theology at Paurastya Vidyapitam, Kottayam, for 11 years from 2000 to 2011, of which he served for a term of three years as the Vice president of the Institute.

Since 2011 he has been serving as the Syncellus (Pro-Vicar General) of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. The new Auxiliary Bishop is proficient in Malayalam, English and German. He is the author of the book titled ‘Priesthood: The Baptised and the Ordained. A textual Hermeneutics in the Light of the Church Documents.’ He is also the editor of the books ‘Akapporul (Malayalam-On Nicea-Constantinople Creed)’; ‘Syro-Malabar Thelogy in Context’ and ‘Paurohithyam: Uravidangal, Yadharthiyangal, Pratheeshakal (Malayalam)’. He has also some articles to his credit.

33. Lahore- Christian widow threatened by husband’s family: Islam or death

"When I got married , the relatives [ of my husband ] have begun to exert pressure so that I convert [to Islam]. But my husband stood up for me , saying that ' my wife and my children should feel free to profess their faith ' . However, after his death his brothers have begun to terrorize us. They have sworn to kill us if we do not convert to Islam. " This is the dramatic and desperate appeal of a Christian woman and widow.  Her husband was a forward-looking man, a Muslim but convinced defender of the right to religious freedom.  She however is now in danger of being killed by his family members.
The marriage between Muhammad Sadiq Masih and Martha Bibi withstood years of pressure and threats from the man's relatives, contrary to a bond with an " unbeliever". The pair remained united and over time became parents to three girls and one boy. The daughters were married to men from Christian families - a fragile and often persecuted minority in Pakistan - and decided to keep the faith of their mother.
However, after the father's death, the girls began to receive threats and pressures from his brothers [ Islamists ] to convert. The eldest daughter Nosheen Afzal , who is married with Kamran Afzal , has suffered direct and personal threats from family members. An uncle branded them as "infidels," because they live as Christians even though (the girl ) is the daughter of a Muslim . To escape the retaliation they had to leave their home the next night - in haste and in secret.
In recent days, her sisters were also targeted by relatives , with threats and pressures. For this reason the mother Martha Bibi turned to a pro human rights organization , including the Masihi Foundation, asking for protection and help. Denouncing the growing "climate of intolerance," the foundation 's legal team immediately took steps lodging a complaint with the competent authorities, even asking protection for the family. Fr. Robin John , a priest of the Archdiocese of Lahore and activist demands their right to religious freedom and recalls the example provided by the family's father who, though Muslim , he never wanted to impose his faith on his children . "This also allowed them to live happily."
With a population of over 180 million people (97 per cent Muslim), Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world and the second Muslim nation after Indonesia. Just under 80 per cent are Sunni Muslim, and 20 per cent are Shia. Hindus are around 1.85 per cent; Christians are 1.6 per cent and Sikhs 0.04 per cent.  Violence against ethnic or religious minorities is commonplace across the country, from the province of Punjab in the north to Karachi in the southern province of Sindh, where more than 2,200 people were killed in the first eight months of 2012.

34. Cardinal Rai says Christians pay the highest price in Mideast conflicts

According to the leader of the eastern-rite Maronite Catholics, Christians always pay the highest price when conflicts erupt in Middle East countries such as Egypt, Syria and Iraq. In an interview to Vatican Radio, Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara Rai,Cardinal Rai observed that whenever a conflict breaks out in the Middle East, whenever chaos ensues, Muslim groups attack the minority Christian community, as if they were always the scapegoat. The Patriarch, who is based in Lebanon also noted that other countries, especially in the West but also elsewhere, are helping to foment these conflicts. He said that Christians seek security and stability and he spoke of how throughout the Arab world Christians respect the institutions, the authorities and the constitution.
Cardinal Rai said that the presence of Christians in Arab countries has created a certain moderation in the Muslim world. Speaking about the tensions between supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Christian community in Egypt, the Maronite Patriarch said it was clear that once in power the Brotherhood would seek Shariah law, which Christians were against. Christians, he said want a reformed and democratic Egypt, an Egypt that knows how to respect human rights.