VATICAN - THE WORDS OF DOCTRINE by Rev Nicola Bux and Rev Salvatore Vitiello - Christian hope is a certainty
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Advent, the season which celebrates our waiting for the Lord's return at the end of time, and revives the memory of his first advent in the flesh, comes every year especially to declare “the true shape of Christian hope ” as the Pope says in the Encyclical Spe salvi. To understand this we must first of all ask, “ what may we hope? And what may we not hope?”.
We must free ourselves of the pretentious idea that once acquired the answer can be accumulated by the next generation: as it can happen in the material or in the moral field “for the simple reason that man's freedom is always new and he must always make his decisions anew. These decisions can never simply be made for us in advance by others—if that were the case, we would no longer be free. Freedom presupposes that in fundamental decisions, every person and every generation is a new beginning. Naturally, new generations can build on the knowledge and experience of those who went before, and they can draw upon the moral treasury of the whole of humanity. But they can also reject it, because it can never be self-evident in the same way as material inventions” (n. 24).
The human condition is such that the truth which has convinced us and to which we freely assent, is for others simply “present as an appeal to freedom and a possibility for it ”. It is not change in the structures and the personnel inside them, however important this may be, which guarantees morality, since it is always a question of the use we make of our freedom. Now “ Freedom requires conviction; conviction does not exist on its own, but must always be gained anew by the community […]Since man always remains free and since his freedom is always fragile, the kingdom of good will never be definitively established in this world. Anyone who promises the better world that is guaranteed to last for ever is making a false promise; he is overlooking human freedom. Freedom must constantly be won over for the cause of good”.
How important this is for this singular community, the Church! Those who dream of a better Church – someone once wrote of a “dream of the eighth Church ”, disappointed perhaps by the seven historical Churches of Revelation – perhaps unwittingly, end up as victims of the heretical ides of Gioacchino da Fiore and the Hegel-Marx ideology. This is why the Fathers spoke of the Ecclesia semper reformanda, not in the sense of change in external structures, because “ Man can never be redeemed simply from outside.” (n. 25), but in a sense of awareness of the intervention by the Other, awareness of the daily coming of the Saviour of personal existence.
Therefore the Advent Liturgy says not only that He will come again and that He came, but that He comes. He, His face, is the true shape of hope. Contemplating Him, the idea of external change receives meaning and at the same time, is relativised. The Advent Liturgy prays: “Show us your face Lord, and we will be saved”. Real change demands simply God's redeeming love, which alone is absolute. “ The human being needs unconditional love. He needs the certainty which makes him say: “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38- 39).
If this absolute love exists, with its absolute certainty, then—only then—is man “redeemed”, whatever should happen to him in his particular circumstances. This is what it means to say: Jesus Christ has “redeemed” us. Through him we have become certain of God, a God who is not a remote “first cause” of the world, because his only-begotten Son has become man and of him everyone can say: “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20). ” (n. 26). (Agenzia Fides 4/12/2008)
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VATICAN - LXXI (2007) Volume of “Missionary Bibliography” published
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Pontifical Missionary Library has published the LXXI Volume of the “Missionary Bibliography” 2007. As scholars and experts in this material know, it is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, as it offers a rich documentation of books and articles on the missionary world in its various aspects: history, religious orders, missionary congregations, missionary territories, missionary methodology, interreligious dialogue, ecumenism, new religious movements...Each one presents an exhaustive panoramic sketch of 3,000 articles on the mission in over 800 magazines worldwide. The volume is in English, while the bibliographical citations are in their original languages: English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Polish, and Scandinavian.
Founded by Fr. Johannes Rommerskirchen, OMI, in 1925, since 1978, the Missionary Bibliography has been linked to the Library at the Pontifical Urbaniana University. The present director is Fr. Marek Rostrowski, OMI, Librarian. The LXXI volume, the most recent edition, holds 3,858 articles and publications on 22 themes including: theology of the mission, history of the mission, present and future of the mission, missionary institutes, ecumenical dialogue and mission, religions in general, mission and atheism, mission and culture, situation of the mission in different continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, United States and Canada, Australia and Oceania.
The Appendix includes the addresses given at presentation of the 70th volume of the work, last year. Following this, there are 35 missionary book reviews. The volume is completed by two thorough indexes, one of authors and persons, and the other of themes. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 4/12/2008)
Links:
Read review, in Italian
http://www.fides.org/ita/recensioni/2008/biblio_miss1208.html
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AFRICA/DR CONGO - Testimony of a missionary from Goma: “The people are still afraid, living as if they were in a foreign land, in distrust and anxiety - especially at night.”
Goma (Agenzia Fides) - “In spite of the fact that for the past few days, the media's interest in this part of the world has died down, the conflict continues in the region of Kivu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,” a testimony sent by Fr. Juanjo Aguado, Spanish Jesuit missionary who since the month of August has been living in Goma (DRC), in a new community of Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) that was sent in to carry out an educational mission in Rutshuru. However, “the reality of the opening of the school failed.” In fact, “on Monday, in the school with the largest student populations, there were 5, in others, there were 1 or 2, and in the majority of the schools, there was no one.” The priest says that this is mainly a result of fear: “The people are still very afraid. Although dramatic events such as the November 5th massacre have not occurred, parents are afraid that their sons will be recruited by force or that their daughters will be used as servants or violated. These things have been occurring on a large scale in recent years, and continue to occur, unfortunately. The people live as if they were in a foreign land, in distrust and anxiety – especially at night.” In addition, “several schools have been used in recent weeks as military camps and in the schools of the JRS program, there were robberies of classroom materials and in the principal's office.”
Also in recent days, the Jesuit missionary has visited the internal refugee camps in Kiwanja (a town 5 km from Rutshuru), with 6,000 people. It is located in front of the MONUC (UN security forces) headquarters. He says that “the tents are placed side-by-side, in order to take advantage of the little space in front of the military base. It is the only place where they feel a 'bit' (a very little bit) safer. The majority are internal refugees who were in the camps that were dismantled on November 1 near Rutshuru and Kiwanja. In spite of the fact that the new authorities try their best to make them go back to their homes, the situation in their hometowns (for some, for over 2 years) is one of absolute instability, as they are fighting zones.” In this camp, “they have no water and barely any food, because as these refugees are not recognized residents of Kiwanja, they were not able to participate in the distribution of food that was made 2 weeks ago,” the Jesuit explained. “The NGOs are now dialoguing with the new authorities, for permission to give them something next Monday, but it is a complicated situation, as they think that if the people are given these things, they will not return to their homes.”
“They are humble and simple people, who would prefer to return to their homes instead of having to repair, on a daily basis, the poles holding up the plastic over their heads. They are afraid. They are people that enjoy conversation and do not let themselves get bogged down in their miseries, but always try to find a reason to hope,” the missionary concluded. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 4/12/2008)
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ASIA/TAIWAN - Bishops of Taiwan prepare for their Ad Limina visit to the Vatican
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – According to information released to Agenzia Fides, the Taiwan Regional Bishops' Conference will make its Ad Limina Apostolorum visit to the Vatican, December 9-13 (although the Bishops will be in Rome December 6-15). It is the first time that the Bishops of Taiwan meet with the Holy Father Benedict XVI, as their last Ad Limina visit was made in 2002, under the Pontificate of John Paul II.
The Taiwan Regional Bishops' Conference is formed by 8 Bishops. The acting President is Archbishop John Hung, SVD of Taipei, and the other members are: Bishop John Baptist Lee of Hsinchu; Bishop Martin Yao-Wen Su of Taichung; Bishop Thomas Chung of Chiayi; Bishop Bosco Lin of Tainan; Bishop Peter Liu of Kaohsiung; Bishop Philip Huang of Hwalien; Bishop John Baptist Tseng, Auxiliary Bishop of Hwalien.
On December 11, the Holy Father and the Secretary of State Cardinal Bertone will receive the Bishops. On the 12th, they will have their audiences with the Holy Father and meet with the Secretary of State. According to the itinerary, the Bishops of Taiwan will visit various Dicasteries of the Roman Curia: the Congregation for Divine Worship, the Congregation for the Clergy, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
Among their main topics for reflection will undoubtedly be the 150th anniversary of the evangelization of the island of Taiwan and the pastoral situation of the Catholic community. There are now about 300,000 Catholics in Taiwan. The Bishops' Conference hopes that beginning this year, there will be 15,000 newly baptized every year. There are also 8 Emeritus Bishops and Emeritus Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-Hsi, SJ of Kaohsiung, still in Taiwan. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 4/12/2008)
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AMERICA/COSTA RICA - Letter from Catholic Action to the country's representatives in government: “The conservation of Christian values of respect for human life and the family, falls under your responsibility.”
Costa Rica (Agenzia Fides) – The Archdiocesan Catholic Action group (FAAC) of the Archdiocese of San Jose (Costa Rica), has sent a letter to the senior members of Parliament, asking that they conserve and defend authentic marriage between a man and a woman and human life from conception until natural death.
Firstly, they remind the politicians that Article 75 of the Constitution states that “the Roman, Catholic, and Apostolic Religion is that of the State, which contributes to its maintenance, without impeding the freedom of worship for other religions, as long as they do not oppose universal moral code and healthy customs.” This article “introduces the Christian values in the vision of the country, for all Costa Ricans and especially our representatives, who by the will of the people (the majority of whom are Christian), declare laws in this perspective.” Thus, they are encouraged to “give great importance to this task, especially in the draft bills on the family and respect for life, that are now underway.”
They also remind them of the importance of marriage between a man and a woman, which has been “the basis for transmission of values for thousands of years.” Thus, they are asked not to make laws that go against this principle, so that “marriage between a man and a woman may continue being the basis of Costa Rican society, in which the presence of a man and a woman is the ideal living environment of a family in order to conserve those values based on God's love for us and the Incarnate Mercy, who is Christ.”
Another issue that they propose for consideration of the representatives is that of defense of life from the moment of conception. The Constitution itself, in Article 21 establishes that human life begins at conception, “however, in recent years, a culture of death and libertinism has been manifest in society, in which each person is free to do whatever they want with their body.” “The Church,” the letter continues, “faithful to the Lord's command, has always spoken out on and defended the sacred value of the life of every human being and, in addition, has promoted programs to support women and families.” The letter also states that abortion “has not only not solved problems...it has opened another wound in our society.”
Thus, the members of Catholic Action make a call to unite efforts so that “various institutions may once again focus on the defense of human life and make the family a priority. Families need to be assisted with all the legislative instruments available, in order to encourage their role as educators in raising children, in the difficult environment of modern society.”
“We are in a crucial moment of the country's life, in which the conservation of Christian values of respect for human life and the family, falls under your responsibility. We encourage you to make an appeal to people's consciences, so that our Costa Rica may be an example for the world of how to promote and declare laws that confirm our democracy in the highest ethical and moral principles,” they state in their final exhortation addressed to the country's legal representatives. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 4/12/2008)
Links:
Complete text of the Letter to the representatives
http://www.fides.org/spa/documents/Carta_de_Accion_Catolica_a_los_diputados.doc
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AMERICA/ARGENTINA - Commemoration of the pontifical mediation that prevented a war between Argentina and Chile, 30 years ago
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) – Cardinal Odilio Pedro Scherer, Archbishop of Sao Paulo (Brazil) has been appointed by the Holy Father as his special envoy in the act commemorating the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the pontifical mediation between Argentina and Chile that prevented a war over the Beagle Canal. The act will take place in Monte Aymond, on December 5.
The Pontifical Mission, which will be presided by Cardinal Scherer, will also be formed by Archbishop Adriano Bernardini, Apostolic Nuncio in Argentina, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, Apostolic Nuncio of Chile, Bishop Juan Carlos Romanin, SDB of Rio Gallegos, representative of the Bishops of Argentina, and Bishop Francisco Javier Prado Aranguiz, SSCC, Bishop Emeritus of Rancagua (Chile) and representative of the Bishops of Chile.
According to the program, the delegation will leave Buenos Aires to travel to Punta Arenas (Chile) on the 4th of December. At 9pm, they will meet with the Presidents of the two countries, and at 10, there will be an official dinner. In her first official journey to Chile, the President of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, will meet with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, to reaffirm the bilateral relationship. At the end of their official meeting, they will sign a joint statement and announce integration agreements. Among the accords, is that of education, making doctoral thesis valid in both countries.
On December 5, at 7:30, the Pontifical Delegate will preside a Mass in the Punta Arenas Cathedral. Then, the Presidents of both countries will unveil a plaque in honor of the late Holy Father John Paul II. They will then proceed on to Monte Aymond, with an altitude of 279 meters, located on the border between the two countries. Here, they will hold a ceremony during which the presidents will lay the first cornerstone of a monument to peace. A contest is being held for the best layout for proceeding forward with the construction. The Cultural Commission will determine the winning artist. During the act, Cardinal Scherer will read a Message from the Holy Father, who weeks ago made reference to the anniversary as “an admirable example of building peace through the timeless and masterful means of dialogue.”
The Churches in both nations will also be celebration the event with Masses on December 22: in Argentina, at the Basilica of Lujan and in Chile, at the National Shrine of Maipu. The Bishops of Chile, during their recent ad limina visit to Rome, celebrated the anniversary on December 1 with a Mass at the Church of Santa Maria della Pace. The Mass was presided by the Bishop of Rancagua and President of the Chilean Bishops' Conference, Bishop Alejandro Goic, and concelebrated by Archbishop of Santiago, Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz, and Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, Chanciller of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
With these celebrations, both countries will recall the events that occurred just days before Christmas 1978, when the two countries – under the military dictatorships of Jorge Videla and Augusto Pinochet – seemed determined to head for armed conflict between one another. On December 22, the Argentinean Army was ready to take the disputed islands by force. However, this same day, Pope John Paul II announced that he would send a representative in his name, to find a solution to the controversy, which was successful in detaining the conflict just minutes before it was to break out. His Holiness sent Cardinal Antonio Samore. Collaborating in the mission were Cardinals Raul Primatesta, Archbishop of Cordoba, and Raul Silva Enriquez, Archbishop of Santiago of Chile. Thanks to this mediation effort, war between the two countries was avoided. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 4/12/2008)
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CEP APPOINTMENTS
AFRICA/KENYA - Rector of Interdiocesan Seminary of Saint Matthias in the Diocese of Eldoret
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, on September 14, 2008 appointed Fr. Dominic Kimengich, of the clergy of the Diocese of Kisumu, Rector of the Interdiocesan Seminary of Saint Matthias in Tindinyo, in the Diocese of Eldoret (Kenya).
The new Rector was born on April 23, 1961 in Kituro, Baringo District (Kenya) and was ordained a priest on September 14, 1986. He studied philosophy in Saint Augustine Seminary (1980-82) and theology in Saint Thomas Aquinas Seminary (1982-86). He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from the Pontifical University Urbaniana and later studied Canon Law at the Pontifical University “Santa Croce” in Rome (1993-1997), where he earned a Licentiate and Doctorate. He carried out various ministries in his diocese: Assistant Pastor and Pastor, Vicar General, Member of the College of Counselors, Judge on the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal, Director of Diocesan Pastoral Ministry, Administrator of the Cathedral, and Rector of St. Joseph's Minor Seminary. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 4/12/2008)
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CEP APPOINTMENTS
AFRICA/KENYA - Rector of Interdiocesan Seminary of Saint Augustine in the Diocese of Bungoma appointed
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, on September 14, 2008 appointed Fr. David Njuguma Kiranga of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Rector of the Interdiocesan Seminary of Saint Augustine, in Mabanga, Diocese of Bungoma (Kenya).
The new Rector was born on December 2, 1962 in Lari, Kiambo District (Kenya) and was ordained a priest on May 29, 1993. After primary school studies, he attended Queen of Apostles Minor Seminary in Nairobi (1979-84) and later took spirituality courses in St. Mary Seminary in Molo (1985), obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Nairobi (1988-91), a Masters in Philosophy (1998-2000), and a Doctorate in Philosophy (2000-2003) from the Pontifical University “Santa Croce” in Rome, and later earning a degree in Priestly Formation from the Pontifical Ateneo Regina Apostolorum (2007).
He has ministered in various areas, as Assistant Pastor and Pastor in Kenya, as well as in Italy and the United States. He has also occupied various posts in higher-learning centers in Kiambu, Limuru and Lari (Kenya) and in Saint Augustine Seminary of Mabanga. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 4/12/2008)
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ACTA OF THE HOLY SEE
AFRICA/CAMEROON - Bishop of Sangmelima resigns, successor appointed
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on December 4, 2008, accepted the renunciation of the pastoral government of the Diocese of Sangmelima (Cameroon) presented by Bishop Raphaël Marie Ze, in conformity with the Code of Canon Law, canon 401 § 1. The Holy Father appointed as Bishop of Sangmelima (Cameroon), Bishop Christophe Zoa, who until now has served as Titular Bishop of Ilta and Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Yaounde. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 4/12/2008)
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