austraLasia #3207
Two further responses, this time of a national flavour, to Pope Francis' new style and direction for the Church.
PRIME MINISTER VISITS Gizo Catholic Community and Training center
+ Luciano Capelli sdb
GIZO: 17 March 2013 --Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo joined Catholic services at St Peter’s Catholic Cathedral, Gizo, visited the St Peter’s Training Center and helped a public dialogue with constituency members at the newly constructed youth center hall at St Peter’s Compound this morning Sunday March17.
In the same week when Catholic’s rejoiced over a new world church leader, a Jesuit trained person with a Franciscan heart and Salesian spirit of joy and optimism, Prime Minister Lilo of Solomon Islands has prayed with, visited and dialogued with his people in his constituency of origin.
The Prime Minister in his address referred to Bishop’s Luciano’s Homily on the Gospel account of the woman caught in adultery and agreed that forgiveness is further above the law… Punishing with the full power of the law is one option, compassion and forgiveness shown to a person can transform him/her from sinner into a good person…since the person’s dignity is far above his/her failures
This is exactly what the St Peter’s Training center wants to do: to show mercy, compassion and service to people who might have offended or might offend the law… by offering them a chance to be forgiven and to undertake a journey of conversion through an education to form him/her into a good Christian and an honest citizen as Don Bosco did. The gift of education shows trust and respect for the offender’s dignity and rebuilds him/her into a positive member of the church and society.
Thus the PM agreed to offer a new chance to juveniles why might have offended the law by giving them an alternative to show their good will… he will recommend ‘alternative sentencing’ for juvenile offenders to give them this last chance
This step is indeed in the right direction in the prevention of criminality and re-orientation of our youth to higher values as good Christians and honest citizens.
The Catholic community of Gizo rejoices at this option of mercy above blindly applied justice in the case of juveniles who lost their way…because they probably never experienced parental care and love. The same community joins Pope Francis in the option of giving priority to the lost, the least and the abandoned…
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Rally at National MHC Shrine for Pope Francis
Bro. Jomar Castillo sdb
PARAÑAQUE CITY: 16 March 2013 -- Yesterday afternoon, 16 March, at around 3:00 pm, parishioners and youth groups, Bosconian representatives from Don Bosco Makati and Mandaluyong, Salesians and seminarians from Canlubang, and some students from the Don Bosco Center of Studies and the Seminaryo ng Don Bosco, gathered at the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in the grounds at Better Living, Parañaque City for a prayer rally spear-headed by Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB, Rector and head of the office for Marian Devotions and the Parish-Shrine.
In his short homily in the prayer service, he shared with those gathered that Don Bosco left the Salesians three devotions: Jesus in the Eucharist, Mary Help of Christians and the Holy Father. Likewise, he said that the present pope is close to the Salesians because he was mentored by a Salesian at least in his student life; he has a special devotion to Mary Help of Christians as he would always volunteer to preside at the 24 May celebrations in Buenos Aires; he has supported a football team established by a Salesian; and he has a special devotion to Blessed Artemides Zatti, whom he knew personally. Finally, he encouraged those gathered to continue praying for the pope for his health and ministry and also to share the devotions which Don Bosco left us as a legacy.
The short program was also covered by two leading media giants in the Philippines (GMA 7 and ABS-CBN), the One Million Stories website, Youth Pinoy and Reuters Media
Pope Francis: two national responses
Two further responses, this time of a national flavour, to Pope Francis' new style and direction for the Church.
PRIME MINISTER VISITS Gizo Catholic Community and Training center
+ Luciano Capelli sdb
GIZO: 17 March 2013 --Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo joined Catholic services at St Peter’s Catholic Cathedral, Gizo, visited the St Peter’s Training Center and helped a public dialogue with constituency members at the newly constructed youth center hall at St Peter’s Compound this morning Sunday March17.
In the same week when Catholic’s rejoiced over a new world church leader, a Jesuit trained person with a Franciscan heart and Salesian spirit of joy and optimism, Prime Minister Lilo of Solomon Islands has prayed with, visited and dialogued with his people in his constituency of origin.
The Prime Minister in his address referred to Bishop’s Luciano’s Homily on the Gospel account of the woman caught in adultery and agreed that forgiveness is further above the law… Punishing with the full power of the law is one option, compassion and forgiveness shown to a person can transform him/her from sinner into a good person…since the person’s dignity is far above his/her failures
This is exactly what the St Peter’s Training center wants to do: to show mercy, compassion and service to people who might have offended or might offend the law… by offering them a chance to be forgiven and to undertake a journey of conversion through an education to form him/her into a good Christian and an honest citizen as Don Bosco did. The gift of education shows trust and respect for the offender’s dignity and rebuilds him/her into a positive member of the church and society.
Thus the PM agreed to offer a new chance to juveniles why might have offended the law by giving them an alternative to show their good will… he will recommend ‘alternative sentencing’ for juvenile offenders to give them this last chance
This step is indeed in the right direction in the prevention of criminality and re-orientation of our youth to higher values as good Christians and honest citizens.
The Catholic community of Gizo rejoices at this option of mercy above blindly applied justice in the case of juveniles who lost their way…because they probably never experienced parental care and love. The same community joins Pope Francis in the option of giving priority to the lost, the least and the abandoned…
-------------------------------
Rally at National MHC Shrine for Pope Francis
Bro. Jomar Castillo sdb
PARAÑAQUE CITY: 16 March 2013 -- Yesterday afternoon, 16 March, at around 3:00 pm, parishioners and youth groups, Bosconian representatives from Don Bosco Makati and Mandaluyong, Salesians and seminarians from Canlubang, and some students from the Don Bosco Center of Studies and the Seminaryo ng Don Bosco, gathered at the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in the grounds at Better Living, Parañaque City for a prayer rally spear-headed by Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB, Rector and head of the office for Marian Devotions and the Parish-Shrine.
In his short homily in the prayer service, he shared with those gathered that Don Bosco left the Salesians three devotions: Jesus in the Eucharist, Mary Help of Christians and the Holy Father. Likewise, he said that the present pope is close to the Salesians because he was mentored by a Salesian at least in his student life; he has a special devotion to Mary Help of Christians as he would always volunteer to preside at the 24 May celebrations in Buenos Aires; he has supported a football team established by a Salesian; and he has a special devotion to Blessed Artemides Zatti, whom he knew personally. Finally, he encouraged those gathered to continue praying for the pope for his health and ministry and also to share the devotions which Don Bosco left us as a legacy.
The short program was also covered by two leading media giants in the Philippines (GMA 7 and ABS-CBN), the One Million Stories website, Youth Pinoy and Reuters Media
