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Monday, 2 January 2012

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Pope appeals for non-violence in Nigeria

The celebration of Christmas leads people to pray in an even stronger way that God would “stop the hands of the violent who sow death and that justice and peace would reign in the world,” the Pope Benedict XVI said on Dec. 26 as he recited the Angelus with visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square.


Pope Benedict XVI

A group called Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the bombings. News reports said at least 35 people died at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, just outside Abuja. Other deadly bombs were set off at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church in Jos and at police stations in three other cities. Pope Benedict told visitors and pilgrims that he was deeply saddened by the news of the Christmas bombings and he offered his prayers “to all those who have been stricken by this absurd gesture. Once again I want to repeat: Violence is a path that leads only to pain, destruction and death; respect, reconciliation and love are the paths to peace,” he said.

Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, told Vatican Radio that most Christians in Nigeria simply do not understand the reason for the bombings, but many of the young people are very angry. “We have tried to calm them down,” he said, but church leaders also have told the government that the only way bring stability is to “identify and eliminate the dens of these terrorist groups.”

“The majority of Nigerians - Muslims and Christians - want to live in peace together,” the archbishop said, pointing out that there were Muslims injured in the bombing of St. Theresa’s. “They were not in the church, but were just passing by on the street,” he said after visiting them in the hospital. The head of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace wrote Archbishop Onaiyekan to express solidarity with Nigerian Christians. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the church in Nigeria at this time of loss and sorrow,” said the Dec. 27 letter from Bishop Richard E Pates of Des Moines, Iowa. “We pray that the New Year will bring peace to your beloved country.”

In Nairobi, Kenya, Christmas Mass at Holy Family Basilica was interrupted when police asked Catholics to evacuate because a suspected terrorist was in the church. Kenyan military officers have been fighting with al-Shabab both in Somalia and the country, and security has been beefed up everywhere, including churches.


Appointed Auxiliary Bishops

The Apostolic Nunciature in Sri Lanka - Embassy of the Holy See - has the honour to inform that the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Rev. Fr. Fidelis Lionel Emmanuel Fernando and Rev. Fr. Sampathawaduge Maxwell Grenville Silva, as Auxiliary Bishops of the Archdiocese of Colombo.

Bishop-elect Emmanuel Fernando was born on 20th May 1948 in Jaffna, but grew up in Colombo. After completing his studies at St. Benedict’s College and in Saint Aloysius’ Minor Seminary, Colombo, he entered the National Seminary, Ampitiya (Kandy), where he studied Philosophy. He did his theological studies at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, obtaining a Masters Degree in Moral Theology, and received his Priestly ordination in the Vatican, from Pope Paul VI, on 6th January 1973. After some years of pastoral ministry, he went to the U.S.A. for post-graduate studies and obtained a Doctorate in Theology from the Catholic University of Washington, D.C. The Bishop-elect has held the post of Professor of Theology and also of Rector at the National Seminary, and was Dean of the Moratuwa Area and Episcopal Vicar for the South in the Archdiocese of Colombo. He is presently the Episcopal Vicar for the Tamil Apostolate in the Archdiocese.

Bishop-elect Maxwell Silva was born on 27th September 1953, at Willorawatte, in the Archdiocese of Colombo. After completing his studies at St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa and in Saint Aloysius’ Minor Seminary, he entered the National Seminary, Ampitiya (Kandy), where he studied Philosophy and Theology. He obtained a Bachelor Degree and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Science of Education from the University of Kelaniya, as well as a Master of Science in Sociology from the same University.

He received his Priestly Ordination in Colombo on 25th July 1981. He was Assistant Parish Priest at Dalugama, Parish Priest at Thibbotugoda and at Mabola, while teaching at St. Joseph’s College, Grandpass and at Basilica College, Ragama. Since 2001, he is the Rector of St. Thomas’ College, Kotte.


‘My dream was to become a priest’

He said that his adoptive parents, a Swedish childless couple, father - a Colonel and mother - an economist - are very kind and lovable to him and to his adoptive sister. Father did not find any difficulty in communication with his adoptive parents as he was very fluent in English language from his childhood as his mother had Burgher descent. After 10 years after his arrival in Sweden, another adoptive sister from India joined the family. Father said “Three of us have grown up like sisters and brother of one family and my adoptive parents guided us to be what we are today.”


Father Michael Bjerkhagen

“From my childhood, my dream was to become a priest. After I graduated from high school, I told my parents that I wanted to become a priest. Thanks to my parents, they gave their blessings for my wish and helped me to become a priest. As my first step to achieve my goal of becoming a priest, I chose the Sweden’s oldest University in Uppsala to study theology. After completing my studies in the University, then I was sent to English Theological College in Lincoln in Northeastern England.”

Q: What do you think about Sri Lanka?

A: I was able to find my parents through a friend of mine in Sri Lanka. He helped me to find the details of my parents from the files of the ‘Evelyn Orphanage’. Thereafter I went to Sri Lanka for the first time in the summer 2011. Unfortunately, I was shocked to know that my parents are no more. However, I was able to meet my grand parents and sisters. I am very happy about it. I spent about 3 to 4 weeks with them and came back to Sweden. But I must say that with my visit to Sri Lanka, I turned over a new leaf in my life. I always think about my family and my country. Now I feel that I have two homes; one in Sweden and one in Sri Lanka.

Q: Do you have any agenda to work for the people of Sri Lanka?

A: Yes, definitely. I have my plans to work for my people and my country through my contacts. I want to share my knowledge to help people and to develop my country. I am also well off to do that.

Q: How do you build up contacts with our embassy in Sweden?

A: I am very happy to mention that now we have a very young and energetic ambassador to represent Sri Lanka. Accidentally, I came to know through the doctor who is in the embassy’s doctors’ panel that a new ambassador from Sri Lanka arrived in Stockholm.

The doctor said that the ambassador is a young person and can be of my age. I requested the doctor to give my contacts. To my surprise, ambassador called me and paid a courtesy visit to my residence. Thereafter, I also went to the embassy several times and the ambassador and the staff have been very friendly and treated me well. I feel at home at the embassy. I have realized that now it is easier for me to serve my motherland as the ambassador also has a good vision and a plan to serve the country. I would like to cooperate with him to serve Sri Lanka.

Q: What is the message do you have to give our Sri Lankans?

A: If one wants to achieve a goal, it does not matter whether their parents are with him or not. What one must have is the determination.

Finally, Father Michael said, I am very proud to be a ‘Swe-Lankan’.


Weekly Devotions:

Some spiritual thoughts to make up your

New Year’s resolutions

As we enter 2012 it is good for us to think about the mistakes we made in 2011, and think positively not to repeat them in 2012. God has given us another year to spend it in bringing honour to His name, and it is a good thing to make some decisions , with His help as to how we intend to live it. If I list below a few obvious situations we all face, may be it will throw some light on it as to how one can avoid getting under it and being overwhelmed and lose out on Christ’s blessings for you. The reason being to rise above it and soar as an eagle does, using the winds that are against it to reach a higher realm.

1) Remember,

God’s word is important for your daily living. Start your day submitting it to Him and acknowledging that He has full control of your life. Confess with your mouth that you want His will to happen - and mould your will to tally with His, so that your life will bring honour to Him.

‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’

In heaven the

Lord’s will is done daily, but not on earth - here we have to make a decision and surrender our wills to Him.

This does not mean that you will not face troubles, but it means that God is in control and will work it out to bring about a blessing. Remember this world is being ruled by Satan, and everyday we must ask the Lord to be present with us.

Psalm 33:20-22

2) Make up

Your mind to live a life of holy sacrifice. God’s purpose is not to develop you as a ‘person’ but to develop you to be more like ‘ Christ’.

This means you have to forget your rights as Jesus forgot His rights.

‘Self’ is absolutely anti for this to be achieved.

He is not interested in making you a beautiful, plump grape! Luscious to look at and be

admired, but that He may squeeze the sweetness out of you - be prepared to pour out your life - and not be bound by rules and regulations. Stop seeking your own satisfaction, our lives have to be broken so that others may be refreshed by it.

3) Sometimes

God takes us through spiritual confusion - but have faith that through it all

He is unfolding a mighty plan for your life.

E.g. a friend who seems indifferent (Luke 11:5-8)

A father who seems harsh in dealing with his son.(Luke 11:11-13)

Stand firm in faith - there is a bigger issue at stake and God is dealing with it - soon

You will understand. Sometimes true love can hurt, but it is sincere in achieving something good for you.

4) Learn to

Enjoy adversities.

Many indelible lessons and truths are learned through adversities. Try to look at your adversities through spiritual eyes. It is a good opportunity to exhibit Christ’s life in you.

5) Let him

That stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with hishands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 

And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as

God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians:4:29,30)

Include these

5 points into your New Years’ Resolutions, and surely the Lord will bless

Year 2012 for you - transforming your life to exhibit Christ in you and increasing the trust you have in Him.

GOD’S

CHOICEST BLESSINGS ON YOU TO ENHANCE YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE IN CHRIST FOR THE

YEAR
2012.

Prayer:
My Lord and
my God, Jesus Christ - be thou my Guide and Protector a I enter into 2012.
Forgive me for the mistakes i made in 2011, cover me with your blood for the
sins I have committed throughout last year and be gracious and merciful
unto me
that I will not repeat these mistakes. Lord Jesus, I want to draw closer
to you this year and submit my
emotions, thoughts and my will to you, so that the inner-person in me belongs
to you. Transform me my Adoni, may my life be a sacrifice that is a sweet
fragrance to you. Hold my hand right throughout this New Year and bless me
with
a clearer revelations of you, I pray.

Amen.

 

Sunitha Sahayam


Christian Thought for the Week

Samuel 2, 18-23

As the king was getting ready to cross (David) Shimel threw himself down in front of him and said, ‘Your Majesty, please forget the wrong I did that day you left Jerusalem. Don’t hold it against me or think about any more. I, know sir, that I have sinned and this is why I am the first from the northern tribe to come and meet Your Majesty today.

Abishai son of Zeruiah spoke up, ‘Shemel should be put to death because he cursed the one whom the Lord chose as king’.

But David said to Abishai and his brother, Joab. ‘Who asked your opinion? Are you going to give me trouble, I am the one who is King of Israel now, and no Israelite will be put to death today. And he said to Shimel, ‘I give you my word that you will not be put to death’.

Parable on the text

This is a fine example how God forgives those who really repent their sins through his chosen leaders like King David. No one can dispute the sanctity of our faith. As true Christians, we must only be focussed on the words of God, the promise He has given us towards our salvation, our place with our redeemer.

Let us forgive our enemies, those who have wronged us and like our redeemer, try to love each and everyone the way God does. If we are to follow the word of God, our home, our country and our world will be a better place to live.

When King David assured Shimel that he would not put him to death because of his wrongs, it was the Lord who was speaking through him.

So, let us be His voice in our lives.

 

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