Filipinos mark feast of Immaculate Conception with grand parade

Annual festivities begin on first Sunday of December.

A miltary brass marching band accompanies a Marian procession of devotees dressed mostly in white as they parade around the old walled city of Intramuros in Manila. (Photo by Angie de Silva)

Manila:  The feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated Dec. 8, but Filipinos traditionally start the festivity on the first Sunday of December when hundreds of images of the Virgin Mary are paraded inside the old walled city of Manila.

Organized by the Confradia de la Immaculada Concepcion, the religious procession this year featured some 90 images of the Blessed Mother from different parts of the country in what has been dubbed as the "grand Marian procession."

A military brass marching band accompanies the procession of devotees who are mostly dressed in white as they parade around the old walled city of Intramuros.

The first Marian procession, held in Manila on Dec. 8, 1619, lasted for 15 days. During the Spanish colonial rule that lasted for 300 years, the annual procession, which was supposed to promote catechism, varied between the days when the procession was held.

Today, the procession has become a showcase of the most prominent Marian images in the country.

Father Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the bishops' Commission of Family and Life, warned that the procession is not about the beautiful dress or the carrozas of the image.

A carroza is the carriage, usually bedecked with flowers and candles, that carries the image of the Virgin Mary.

"We see [the procession] as very grand because of the carrozas, the band and so on, but it's not about that," said Castro.

"Its about the devotion to the Blessed Mother," added the priest.

Father Castro explained that the elaborate procession is the Filipino devotees "way of expressing their love to the Blessed Mother."

"That's why you see the image dressed beautifully and adorned with a crown," the priest said, adding that the Blessed Virgin Mary is "very simple."

He also warned that while the images of the Blessed Virgin Mary have different names, there should be no contest as to what image is the most beautiful or miraculous "because they are all the same."

The annual feast of the Immaculate Conception is a holy day of obligation, meaning observing Catholics should attend Mass and avoid any nonessential work, to commemorate the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

Source: UCAN

First deaf priest in Southeast Asia is ordained

Singaporean demonstrates that a disability doesn't limit one's potential.

Singapore:  For many of his parishioners, Father Rowland Yeo is more than a spiritual leader; he has become a role model for anyone fearing a disability might limit one's potential.

On Nov. 28, Father Yeo became the first deaf priest to be ordained in Southeast Asia and one of just two dozen worldwide.

Every Sunday for the past decade, Father Yeo serves the deaf community. He is an active and respected member of his brotherhood, but the life is not without moments of loneliness.

"Some challenges include communication with the friars in my community, particularly at meal times, when discussions can be very lively and it is hard for me to catch up," he said.

Born to a Buddhist family in Singapore in 1957, Father Yeo was drawn to the church when a Catholic aunt had him accompany her to a service at age 11. As a young man, he learned catechism from a Redemptorist priest. A fortuitous meeting with Father Tom Coghlin, the first deaf priest in North America, helped guide his service. Under Father Coghlin's patronage, he studied philosophy at Gallaudet University for the deaf in Washington D.C.

Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, Father Yeo joined the Franciscan brotherhood in 1997.

"We witness by our lives as ‘lesser brothers' e.g., recognizing that everyone is our brother and sister … and serving together with humility and generosity," he wrote in an email to ucanews.com.

"We show the world that God can be encountered in every person and in every created thing; e.g. we believe that there is goodness and beauty in every thing and everyone."

From his new position, Father Yeo hopes he can serve as an inspiration to all.

"I hope that not only the deaf, but all who suffer any kind of handicap, can believe in themselves and in God to fulfill one's mission in life, no matter what obstacles there are," he wrote.

Source: UCAN

Vatican allows more defence witnesses in leaks trial

The trio faces up to 10 years in jail if found guilty.

A Vatican court agreed to allow second-in-command and other top advisers to Pope Francis be witnesses in the trial of five people over the leaks of stolen confidential Vatican documents.

It remains to be seen if secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin will actually testify, or Cardinal Santos Abril y Castello, the president of the Commission of Cardinals of the Vatican bank, another possible witness.

The court's decision followed a request by defendant Francesca Chaouqui, a public relations expert who along with a senior clergyman and his assistant are accused of forming a criminal organisation and of stealing and leaking the confidential documents.

The trio faces up to 10 years in jail if found guilty.

Also in the dock are two Italian journalists who used the documents in recently published tell-all books detailing greed, corruption and poor management by senior churchmen and resistance by the old guard to Pope's attempts to reform the Vatican.

The reporters were accused of publishing news based on confidential Holy See documents and of "soliciting and exercising pressure" to obtain the documents. They face up to eight years in prison if convicted.

The Vatican was widely criticised for prosecuting the journalists, a move seen as harming freedom of speech and information.

The court also agreed on Monday to admit more text messages and emails, as well as letters and the results of a psychiatric exam of the monsignor on trial -- Lucio Vallejo Balda -- as evidence.

The trial resumed on Monday after being adjourned for a week at the request of Chaouqui to allow more time to prepare her defence after she hired a new lawyer.

IANS

Christmas season starts on December 16 in Kolkata

This year, neighbouring area of Chowringhee will be included in the festivities, complete with hymns, carols, music and food.

Kolkata:  The eastern metropolis will usher in the Yuletide spirit on December 16 with Kolkata Christmas Festival (KCF) which will for the first time roll out a fun-filled Christmas parade.

The two hour-long parade to be held on December 20 at Park Street, the famous Raj era hub for Christmas celebrations, will have enthusiastic school-goers as participants.

This year, neighbouring area of Chowringhee will be included in the festivities, complete with hymns, carols, music and food.

Revellers can bask in the holiday glow beyond New Year as the festival will continue till January 2.

Key features are live performances at Allen Park in Park Street and a food extravaganza, courtesy 40 food kiosks dishing up an array of items from various communities of the city.

Supported by the West Bengal Tourism Department, the festival will see the city festooned in special Christmas-themed lights as well.

IANS

Mumbai Church to deal with 'benchmark' clergy abuse case

Case will test new norms and procedures promulgated by Indian bishops' conference.

Kochi:  A Catholic priest has been arrested for allegedly sodomizing a 13-year old boy in Bombay Archdiocese.

Mumbai police arrested Father Lawrence Johnson, 51, accused of abusing the boy on Nov. 27 at Christ the King Church parish, archdiocesan spokesman Father Nigel Barret told ucanews.com Dec. 7.

The priest is "now under judicial custody," Father Barret said adding that Father Johnson was arrested Dec. 1 following complaints from the alleged victim's family.

"Representatives of the archdiocese have met with the victim and his family ... All assistance is currently being rendered to the victim's family," Father Barret said.

The case is the first reported case of clergy sex abuse since the church in India put in effect on Nov. 1 a Vatican-approved procedure to deal with allegations of sex abuse by Catholic clergy.

"The procedure has zero tolerance toward clergy sex abuses" and puts in place stringent and transparent investigative methods, said Father Joseph Chinnayan, deputy secretary general of the Indian bishops' conference.


Benchmark abuse case

Virginia Saldanha, a Catholic theologian and women's right activist, said Catholic leaders across India will be watching how the archdiocese handles the case.

"This is the first publicized case of child sex abuse by a member of clergy (since the new procedures were put in place). It will surely be a benchmark on how the church is prepared to deal with such cases," she told ucanews.com.

Father Barret said the archdiocese will send the results of its investigation to the Vatican to determine further canonical action. If found guilty, Father Johnson will be defrocked or laicized, he said.

Saldanha, an outspoken activist on the rights of abuse victims, wondered why church officials have not published for public consumption the procedural norms on dealing with clergy abuses.

"The norms need to be published. That will show their earnestness to rout out this crime of abuse," she said.

"Perhaps they fear publishing the norms will open a flood-gate of complaints of sexual abuse," she added.

Source: UCAN

Saint Eulalia Child Martyr († 303)

Saint Eulalia

Child Martyr
(† 303)

Saint Eulalia Saint Eulalia was a native of Merida, in Spain. The daughter of Christian parents, she was taught in her childhood by a very holy priest of that city. She was but twelve years old when the bloody edicts of Diocletian were issued. Her parents, knowing of her vow of virginity and fearing that her zeal would cause her to be a victim of the persecutions, sent her to their house in the country. Eulalia indeed escaped, as they feared, and returned to the city to present herself, with her young companion and Christian friend, Julie, before the cruel Calpurnianus, representing the viceroy of Diocletian. She reproached him for attempting to destroy souls, by compelling them to renounce the only true God.
The officer commanded that she be seized, and at first tried to win her over by flattery. Failing in this, he had her flogged and resorted to threats, causing the most dreadful instruments of torture to be placed before her eyes, and saying to her: All this you shall escape, if you will but touch a little salt and frankincense with the tip of your finger. Provoked by these seducing flatteries, our Saint threw down the idol before her, and trampled upon the cake placed there for the sacrifice. At the judge's order, two executioners tore her tender sides with iron hooks, so as to leave the very bones bare, then tortured her with burning torches, and dragged her by her hair to the site of execution. She said to the cruel persecutor, Calpurnianus, look well at me so that you may recognize me on the day of the Final Judgment, when both of us will appear before Jesus Christ, our common Lord, I to receive the reward of my torments, and you, the chastisement of your inhumanity toward the Christians. She was covered with hot coals; the fire caught in her hair and surrounded her head and face, and she suffocated amid the smoke and flames. The persecutor commanded that her body be left untended for three days, but Providence covered it with a blanket of snow, which seemed to whiten it and give it a marvelous beauty.
The Christians buried Saint Eulalia in Merida. Later her body was transported to Oviedo, Spain, where it was placed in a chapel dedicated to her memory, within the large church. She is the patroness of that city, and many graces have been received when her relics are transported in processions in times of public necessity.

Saint Bibiana Virgin and Martyr († 363)

Saint Bibiana

Virgin and Martyr
(† 363)

Saint Bibiana Saint Bibiana was a native of Rome, born in the fourth century, the daughter and sister of martyrs. Flavian, her Christian father, was apprehended during the reign of Julian the Apostate, branded on the face as a slave, and banished to Toscany, where he died of his wounds a few days later. Her mother, Dafrosa, was beheaded two weeks later. Their two daughters, Bibiana and Demetria, after the death of their parents were stripped of all they had in the world, and then imprisoned with orders to give them no food. The Roman praetorian offered them rewards if they would abandon their faith, and threatened a cruel death if they would not conform, but they replied courageously that the goods and advantages of this world had no attraction for them, and that they would endure a thousand deaths rather than betray their faith and their Saviour. Demetria, after having pronounced this ardent defense, fell to the ground and expired at her sister's side; she is inscribed in the Roman martyrology on June 21^st.
The officer gave orders that Bibiana be placed in the custody of a woman named Rufina, who was commanded to corrupt her or mistreat her. But the martyr made prayer her shield and remained invincible. Enraged at the courage and perseverance of the young virgin, the persecutor ordered her to be tied to a pillar and whipped until she expired, with scourges tipped with leaden plummets. The Saint underwent this punishment cheerfully, and died at the hands of the executioners. She was buried by a holy priest at a site where afterwards a chapel and then a church were built above her tomb. In 1628 the church was splendidly rebuilt by Pope Urban VIII, and in it he placed the relics of the two sisters and of Saint Dafrosa, their mother.