In an interview with O Clarim, Fr Cyril Jerome Law, Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Macau, speaks about his participation in the Asian Continental Assembly on Synodality. He highlights the multilingual and multi-cultural dimension of the local Church in Macau and the need for effective communication. Fr Cyril further believes that Catholics in Macau can contribute to the synodal process by engaging in spiritual conversation and promoting the Church’s teachings through pastoral outreach.
The reflection by Fausto Gomez, OP, explores his identity as a creature, human, Christian, and God’s adopted son. He emphasizes his responsibility to care for God’s creation and acknowledges the purpose of life as finding happiness through love. Fr Gomez also highlights the Christian view of the human person, where greatness comes from openness to God and others, and destruction comes from selfishness.
Fr Timothy Wan Kwok Kwong shares his encounter with Bom Jesus dos Passos and how it led him to consider his journey to the priesthood. He explains how the event inspired him to offer himself to Jesus and consider his vocation. Fr Tim talks about his experience with the procession and how Jesus called him, leading to a series of events that ultimately led him to enter the seminary.
Each one of us has the possibility to meet Jesus in the same way, especially in Lent, in the reconciliation which is offered to us in the Sacraments and in our life of prayer. During this Lent, by unmasking our hearts in front of Jesus, we too, like the Samaritan woman, might become the catalysts of this never-ending encounter between God and humanity.
The thirst of the Samaritan woman is the symbol of the most intimate needs that torment the heart of the bride-Israel: the need for peace, love, serenity, hope, happiness, sincerity, consistency, and for God. These are the needs that every person experiences.
The sixth commandment, “You shall not commit adultery,” is comprehensive and encompasses all sins against chastity, according to the Tradition of the Church. These sins include adultery, masturbation, fornication, pornography, prostitution, rape, and homosexual acts. Offenses against chastity also include the use of artificial means to control birth, such as direct sterilization or contraception, and artificial insemination and fertilization.
Iraqi Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, emphasizes the urgent need for unity among Eastern Churches to safeguard the future of Christianity in the Middle East. Building bridges with Muslims is also essential, says the patriarch.
The month of March of every year is the month of St. Joseph, “father” of Jesus, husband of Mary and Patron of the Universal Church. In his letter titled, ‘Patris Corde’, Pope Francis has focused on the special fatherhood of St Joseph, and outlined seven characteristics of his unique fatherhood: beloved, tender, loving, obedient, accepting, creatively courageous, and a father in the shadows.
The Rui Cunha Foundation will host a forum on business leadership on March 14. Promoted by the Macau Ricci Institute, the initiative is a warm-up event in preparation for the ceremony of the First Deignan Award for Responsible Entrepreneurship. Nine companies from Macau have been nominated for the prize.
The Catholic communities in Laos and Cambodia are facing significant challenges in training local clergy and reaching out to young people. With only 0.5% of the population in Laos and 0.1% in Cambodia being members of the Roman Catholic Church, the bishops are focusing on creating “prospects of hope” among those who are left behind in society. The lack of local clergy and language barriers are just a few of the challenges they face.