+e219-emal 28.01.2019 09:42 Seite 1
No 2 • February/March 2019 Published eight times per year
© Ismael Martínez Sánchez/ACN
www.acnmalta.org
Mending souls comes first: Confession amid the rubble in St. Rita’s Cathedral, Aleppo, Syria.
“I cannot be baptised many times, but I can go to Confession and by doing so renew the grace of Baptism. It is as though I were being baptised for a second time.” Pope Francis, General Audience on 13 November 2013
We are travelling together as the Church along the pilgrim path of Lenten penance, which will lead us into the great “hallelujah” of the Paschal Feast. This season is marked by our contemplation of the self-offering of Jesus, and the sign of His saving Sacrifice is the Cross. This is the treasure which contains every good within itself. In Baptism we were marked with the sign of the Cross and everything – the sacraments that enabled grace to grow within us, the prayers and petitions that rise up from each individual and from the whole community, every blessing that has ever been bestowed upon us – everything, absolutely everything in the Christian life flows from the Cross. All light, all spiritual strength, all reason for hope – everything comes from the Cross. A tree led to the world’s enslavement, but through the death of Jesus a tree became the source of new life for the whole world. If we wish to be true disciples of Jesus and attain everlasting blessing, then we must follow in the footsteps of Jesus; and – sooner or later – we will inevitably encounter the Cross. And yet from this Cross, empurpled with the precious Blood of Christ, there still shines forth the light of victory.
How great is the light that shines out from the Cross! It tells us that our separation from God was ended at that moment when the Son of God offered Himself for our sins and died praying to God for our forgiveness. No crime or blasphemy of ours can exceed the forgiveness of Christ. Even the condemned criminal who repents is promised: “This day you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk 23:43). Hence the message for all of us: Take heart!
which is in practice the quintessence of the Cross. All too frequently today people speak about the sins of the men and women of the Church, and of the need for reform and renewal. But authentic renewal can only come about when it takes place in every individual soul and when we make use of the means that Jesus Himself has given us for this purpose! And so priests must always make themselves available for Confession; this must be a priority for them. And they themselves must set the ex“All light, all spiritual ample by frequently confessing strength, all reason for to one another. All pastoral minhope, everything comes istry begins here, and all the Catholic faithful, whatever their from the Cross.” age or status, ought to go to conIn the Cross this offer of salvation is held fession regularly. This will bring benefits to out to every one of us. Yet everyone must us all, to individuals, to families, to parishes, still lay down their own burden of sins at to society, to the entire Church. This is how the foot of the Cross and bend the knee to achieve a peaceful revolution, the revolubefore the infinite mercy of Jesus – which tion of the Good which conquers evil! in practice means a sincere sacramental With the promise of my prayers and my Confession with true repentance and an blessing on you all, and my wishes for a truly honest intention to sin no more. Even holy and life changing Paschal feast! though we know that on account of our weaknesses we will inevitably fall again, nevertheless, each one of us must take this step in Confession. The time has come to Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, learn a new appreciation of this sacrament, President of ACN 1
+e219-emal 28.01.2019 09:42 Seite 2
rothers b s u o i g Reli
Saint Paul – their pattern for today
Their charism is “ad gentes” – to the nations – and their motto is “I thirst” from St John’s Gospel (19:28). These two phrases frame the logo of their congregation and are intended to show their desire to imitate Christ and continue His redemptive work. And like their patron saint, Paul – the apostle to the nations, who spent three years preparing himself thoroughly for his mission, so too the Brothers of Saint Paul place great value on the formation of their novices, postulants and aspirants. The majority of them will go on to bear witness to the Gospel by their lives as brothers in the congregation. But right now, especially in the anti-Christian environment in which they live, they need a solid theological grounding, including Bible studies and liturgical training. Their formation also includes lessons in Church music and – an indispensable feature today – a basic grounding in IT studies. Once a week they visit the sick and they also
Foto: George Dali Apo
“Each new generation needs new apostles” – so wrote Pope Saint John Paul II in his message for World Youth Day 1989 held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. It was the spark that inspired the Missionary Brothers of Saint Paul in Burma (Myanmar). For 28 years now they have been bringing the Gospel of Christ to the people.
New apostles for the Church: the Missionary Brothers in their formation centre in Myetto. regularly go out to the remotest villages. Today they are active in a number of dioceses in the country.
for help (€7,000) and we have promised our support. “For the labourer is worthy of his hire” (Lk 10:7). And as for us, is it not “more blessed to give”? (Acts 20:35)
•
There is no shortage of new vocations; currently they have five postulants and 42 aspirants in formation. For such a young congregation, which began with nothing, it is not easy to cope with the cost of their training, board and travel expenses. And, to put it bluntly, they cannot cope. Yet at the same time they do not wish to turn away any genuine new vocations, nor will they consider taking shortcuts in their formation programme. For the entire Gospel must be proclaimed, in season and out of season. So they have turned to ACN
Computer studies: no doubt Saint Paul would be doing the same thing today.
Being the hands of Christ India’s Malabar Missionary Brothers elderly, abandoned and the sick, working for are brothers to the helpless and long hours each day. For these poor ones, the brothers are the hands and the love of Christ. forgotten.
Studying and finding new strength in their community retreat. 2
Founded 70 years ago in the archdiocese of Trichur in Kerala, today their congregation is present in 18 Indian dioceses. Their mission is to evangelise through “service in humility” according to the Franciscan charism. Living a life of poverty and renunciation, they give religious instruction, care for mentally handicapped children and young people who have become involved in crime, run orphanages, help unemployed young men, visit the
Their work is exhausting and saps both their physical and spiritual strength. The brothers are men of prayer, but even they need to recharge their “spiritual batteries” from time to time. They achieve this through spiritual retreats and training courses – but with their charitable work and other expenses they have no money left for spiritual formation. We have promised €3,100 for 43 brothers waiting to attend a two-week retreat.
•
Any donation you kindly give will go to support these, or similar
pr
+e219-emal 28.01.2019 09:42 Seite 3
Aleppo
Foto: George Dali Apo
Students pray in the chapel of Jesus the Worker, inside the student hostel.
Paying out bursaries: everything is carefully recorded.
Medical student Boutros studies in his room in the student hostel.
Praying – and studying – for a peaceful future “In principio erat Verbum – in the beginning was the Word; at the origin of everything is the creative reason of God”, said Pope Benedict XVI. Faith and reason are necessary for each other. “Without reason, faith degenerates; without faith, reason threatens to become stunted.”
A good education is also necessary for young Christians to have any chance in the job market. And only young Christians who are enrolled at university can avoid conscription in the army.
Using our reason is essential for us as Christians, so that we can better understand our Faith. For Christians in Islamic countries, and especially in Syria, it is also needed for survival. Only well-educated Christians can de-
Education is the key to peaceful coexistence among those of conflicting beliefs. That is one reason why Christians in the Middle East have always attached great importance to their children receiving a good education. It is also
fend themselves to their Islamic neighbours and flourish and thrive in this environment.
why their children’s schooling and university studies are so important to them. For Christians who are now returning to Aleppo, or who have never left the city, issues such as how they will pay for their children’s studies are never far from their minds. Working with ten local Christian Churches ACN has drawn up a programme to support students. Under this scheme some 7,340 young people will receive €20 per month for the duration of the academic year (eight months) – to help with transport, food and other essentials. The Church also organises spiritual events for students, to support their souls in addition to supporting their studies. The students’ prayers, along with their studies, can help to build a peaceful future in Syria. Would you consider supporting one student for one year in Aleppo?
•
Hope in a drop of milk Milk is vital for the healthy growth of children – but it can also be expensive. Many families in Syria simply cannot afford it, so for three years now we have been supporting the “Drop of Milk” campaign for Christian families in Aleppo. A list of all children under 11 years has been drawn up and a distribution centre set up in a safe quarter of the city where dried milk is regularly provided. Some 3,000 children receive a regular ration of powdered milk every month; 250 of them lar
are under one year and so receive special formula milk, suited to their age. All the Christian Churches in Aleppo are involved, and the “Drop of Milk” campaign unites families across the religious divide, feeding not only the children but people’s hope for a life lived in peace together. One month’s supply costs €20,000 – and we have promised help for the whole of this year.
projects, and enable the pastoral work of Aid to the Church in Need.
•
This is our milk powder – Thank you to everyone who has helped us! 3
+e219-emal 28.01.2019 09:42 Seite 4
rica East Af
A Family of Divine Providence
Everything starts with prayer: the Montfortian Brothers in their chapel.
“He who ventures nothing for God will achieve nothing great for him either.” Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673 – 1716) ventured a great deal, and today Montfortian Brothers, inspired by his spirit, are achieving great things too.
ÖNB/Wien Bildarchiv PORT_00137219_01
They are not performing miracles, and yet in their actions and prayers they bear witness to the beauty of the consecrated life, which they have chosen for the love of God. The Brothers of Christian Instruction of Saint Gabriel devote themselves to the education of children and young people. “Education is our special charism”, says Brother Mathai Moolakara,
“God alone” was the motto of Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort. 4
who heads their monastery in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. They run schools and organise retreats. Faithful to Church teaching, they fulfil their mission with perseverance and prayer. And they are attracting new vocations. When they began in Morogoro in 2009, they had just three novices. Now they have 23 from seven different countries. Worldwide, this congregation of pontifical right now has 1,300 members in 33 countries. Like Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, they pray the Rosary daily. Pope Saint John Paul II himself referred to Louis de Montfort as his “reference point in life, who gave me light in all the decisive moments of my life”; and took his papal motto, “Totus Tuus” (“All yours [O Mary]”) from Saint Louis. Saint Louis described his congregation as a “family of divine providence”. And the brothers in Dar es Salaam display this same trust in Divine Providence. They beg alms and give to the poor, they work in the fields and share the fruits of their labour with needy families, they pray with young people and go into villages to visit the sick and elderly. In short, they bear witness to God’s loving mercy. For
Education is the charism: Montfortian novices attending a lecture. years they lived by the fruit of their own labour, but with growing numbers of brothers the land does not yield enough, and costs are rising. Yet they still want to continue teaching the young, and they would like more brothers to join their mission, but these would need a solid training. They are asking us for €4,600 for their novices. Once again they are trusting in Divine Providence. Not that they have not put their hand to the plough themselves. In the coming years they are planning to become self sufficient by cultivating more land and growing more bananas, maize and vegetables. And they also plan to develop their present chicken coop into a farm, with rabbits, 10 cows and 20 pigs, hoping to be able to live from the income generated by this livestock rearing. But first they need help for the next two years. They have a bold vision for God and the mission – and we can help them with our prayers and whatever we can give.
•
Any donation you kindly give will go to support these, or similar
pr
+e219-emal 28.01.2019 09:42 Seite 5
s efugee r n a i r Sy
Back on her feet: little Mirjam is learning to stand and walk again.
Alive against all odds: Comboni Sister Bachara comforts a newborn child.
Surviving in Jordan “Peace in Syria is possible”, says Pope Francis. But first of all the country’s people have to survive, which is why the Pope is constantly calling on us to help the hungry and thirsty, the naked, the sick, the stranger and those driven from their homes by violence and war. Many sick refugees from Syria are being cared for by the Comboni Sisters in the Italian hospital in Karak, Jordan, just over the Syrian border. Here they are given shelter and emergency aid. “We are caring above all for pregnant women and young mothers with small children”, says Sister Adele. Children are Syria’s future, and without them peace has no future. And often the refugees, after receiving emergency aid from the Sisters, have gone on to support themselves and help provide for others in need. But most of them just want to return home. During these eight years of war, more and more refugees have poured in to the country. The Jordanian government could no longer bear the cost, nor could the Sisters. Their x-ray machine broke down, making diagnoses difficult. It is now beyond repair. And their ancient air-conditioning system also keeps breaking down, limiting the work they can do in the operating theatre. They are living and working from day to day, with lar
Many of the refugees have nowhere to turn to when they fall ill. They cannot afford the most essential medication. During the early years of the civil war the hospital was still able to count on the support of other international organisations, but now their sup-
port has dwindled. But the Sisters cannot simply turn away expectant mothers or sick children, or emergency admissions. They know that for most people the 150 km journey to the capital, Amman is too far and too costly. So the Sisters are seeking our help – so that they can go on helping others. In all these refugees they see the suffering face of Christ. And we want Him to be able to continue saying to them: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me” (Mt 25:40). We have promised €50,000 for the medical care of these Syrian refugees.
Sheltering in the hospital corridor, a family waits for the doctor.
Her two children are sick and she has nowhere else to go.
no idea as to how long things can continue as they are.
projects, and enable the pastoral work of Aid to the Church in Need.
•
5
+e219-emal 28.01.2019 09:42 Seite 6
Fraternal and missionary After 32 years as Bishop and then Archbishop of Huambo in Angola, Mgr José de Queirós Alves has now retired. In a letter to ACN he thanks all of you, on behalf of his people, for all the help you have given over the years. “Whenever we turned to In the midst of his faithful… you in our need, you Archbishop Emeritus José de Queirós Alves. were there, both as missionaries and as brothers and sisters. When your support came to us it was a sign that God was with us; your encouragement helped us to grow in faith.” Now archbishop emeritus, he thanks us, “not just for your great generosity, but also for the missionary spirit” in which we helped them and he prays to “the risen Lord to continue to fill and enlighten the hearts of the benefactors.” And Mgr Alves promises to remember us every day when he offers the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
Need, love and thanks − your letters Little things with love Every month I collect up my small change and put it in a piggy bank, so that in December I am able to give a bigger donation with the money I’ve saved over the course of the year. I’m just an ordinary woman and can’t contribute much. So this is my offering for my brothers and sisters in greatest need. A benefactor in Brazil Closer to God We’d like to thank you for your very profound letter in the August ’18 issue of the Mirror. By reminding us of the great need of the Church in the Holy Land, you showed how through a closer relationship with God and educating families in God’s peace we can help the Good News to reach every family in the world! A married couple in Belgium Greetings from an old friend As a friend of your wonderful charity for many years, I want to thank you for all you are
doing for our persecuted and suffering brothers and sisters. I have come to appreciate the truly evangelical warmth of those working for your charity, which is truly in the spirit of Father Werenfried! For some years now I have been promoting your spiritual and fundraising initiatives and this year we have been able to collect a total of 80 Euros, which I am now sending you. Of course it is only a drop in the ocean of need, but it is a drop of water which can little by little form a ripple, then a stream, and then a torrent… A benefactor in France Ordinary benefactors’ “integrity” I enjoy the Mirror very much. I am frequently moved by the ‘testimonials’ by the donors (apart from the content of the bulletins themselves). Often the donors are poor pensioners in Europe or Australia giving their ‘widows mites’. This has integrity and I am sure the Lord is pleased with these offerings. A benefactor in Australia
Thomas Heine-Geldern, Executive President, ACN (International)
Dear Friends,
A Christian industrialist once said to me that our task in everyday life was “to reduce the distance that separates us from Jesus Christ in our daily activities”. If this is really the case, then fasting is one way in which we can go about drawing closer to our Lord. By fasting I am not talking about some kind of modern detox programme, but rather the genuinely Christian notion of freely giving something up for God. I always find it very moving when I hear of individual Christians, and also of religious communities, who have consciously renounced some of life’s comforts in order to come to the aid of our needier brothers and sisters. I am quite sure that our giving to the persecuted and suffering Church – when it comes at the same time as a conscious act of renunciation for the sake of the Gospel – has a particular spiritual power, because it has its origin in the desire to imitate Christ. Perhaps this Lenten season can lead us to a deeper understanding of the profound significance of fasting, as a form of spiritual sharing. I am moved to share these thoughts with you by the many, many appeals for help that reach us daily. And I have no doubt that I can continue to count on your generous response. Yours gratefully,
Editors: Jürgen Liminski & Stephen Axisa Please use the envelope. Aid to the Church in Need, 39B Mdina Road, Publisher: Aid to the Church in Need, 39B Mdina Road, Attard ATD 9038 Attard ATD 9038; Tel: 21487818; Fax: 21586257 APS Bank, IBAN: MT72 APSB 7705 7008 5772 2000 1771 733 Printed in Malta BIC: APSBMTMT De licentia competentis auctoritatis Email: info@acnmalta.org – facebook//Aid to the Church in Need Malta ecclesiasticae Pass this leaflet on to your neighbours, friends or leave it at the Parish www.acnmalta.org Church for others to review.
Where to send your contribution for the Church in Need
6