How can you equip your children to live a life of integrity before God and in service to others? Developing a character that stands firm is not something that happens automatically. As a parent, you need goals for character development and practical ways of achieving those goals. John and Susan Yates describe how both parents and childre can intentionally grow in character through the normal, daily events in life. They highlight eight essential character traits-integrity, faith, a teachable spirit, a servant’s heart, self-discipline, joy, compassion, and courage-and give insight into God’s perspective on each.

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The Japanese film Mujo No Kaze won first place at the second Iñigo Film Festival, which was held alongside the MAGiS08 WYD Youth Festival at Loreto Kirribilli. The film’s Japanese-American director, Dean Yamada, travelled to Sydney to accept his award, and spoke of the importance of telling spiritual stories. Mujo No Kaze deals with depression and the futility of life, telling the story of a young man who, following the murder of his friend in the US, encounters the lure of Japan’s notorious suicide clubs. The movie reflects on his wrestle with God, and the spiritual journey this life-changing experience takes him on. ‘We want to tell stories that will cause people to think and promote dialogue’, explained Dean. He expressed gratitude to ‘everyone who came here to support film and promote spirituality in film. It’s from Jesus that all our blessings flow.’

Cocoon, which explores the ramifications of an unexpected pregnancy, won 2nd place, while Blind, in which Jesus becomes the protective friend of a small boy as he runs a hostile gauntlet to school each day, was placed 3rd. The Audience Award went to Judas’ Pane, a film in which Judas tries to redeem himself. The Burundian film Le Tournant d’une Vie, which confronts the issues of rape and Aids, won the Fidel Goetz Emerging Film-Maker Award.

The panel of judges included the festival director, Christof Wolf SJ and Richard Leonard SJ. The films – all based on the theme City of God – were a creative and visual contribution to spiritual enquiry, said Fr Leonard. ‘These awards reward young people who grapple with spiritual issues.’ The aim of the festival, said Fr Wolf, was to ‘encourage young filmmakers reflecting on spirituality and faith in their own way.’ Fr Wolf thanked the festival’s funding partners and our committed sponsors, saying that the festival’s comprehensive programme, comprising 19 short films, would not have been possible without their support. The awards were presented by Sr Barbara Brown-Graham FCJ.

The Jesuit Conference of the United States was one of the sponsors for this year’s festival.

Two weeks ago, from 11 to 13 July, over 800 Catholics and other people of faith gathered in Philadelphia for a Convention for the Common Good, convened by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, and NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby. This historic gathering brought together delegates from more than 20 Catholic social justice organizations and religious communities, including dozens of individuals from Jesuit schools, parishes, and sponsored ministries.

One goal of the convention was to affirm the Platform for the Common Good that would then be signed by thousands of Catholics across the country and sent to both presidential candidates prior to their conventions this summer. In an effort to strengthen the Ignatian family’s work to promote the Common Good, the Ignatian Solidarity Network encourages you to read the Platform, share it with friends and family, and sign the document here: http://www.votethecommongood.com/. Catholics in Alliance and NETWORK are working to secure 10,000 signatures by mid-August.

Source: Ignatian Solidarity Network http://www.ignatiansolidarity.net/

SEOUL (UCAN) — While struggling to master computer programming morning to night, a Korean priest started to question his priestly identity, so he began posting daily reflections on the Internet.

That was how Father Matthew Cho Myeong-yeon began seven years ago, on Seoul archdiocese’s Good News website, the largest Catholic Internet portal in South Korea. Eventually, on Jan. 6, 2005, he started posting the reflections on his own website, Opening Dawn (www.bbadaking.com). However, subscribers can choose to receive the daily missives by e-mail.

Father Matthew Cho Myeong-yeon

His messages can be simple instructions, such as “Find a miracle around you,” “Spend an hour today for others” or “Do something today you have been putting off,” or a long story that has a moral in it.

The ministry has spread by word of mouth among local users mostly in their teens and 20s — including Protestants, Buddhists and people who profess no religion — and now has more than 6,300 e-mail subscribers.

Father Cho, 38, was ordained a priest in 1999 for Incheon diocese, based just west of Seoul. He served as an assistant parish priest before working as the diocesan social communications director 2001-2003. He is now parish priest of Kansuk4-dong Church.
UCA News spoke with him at his parish church on July 22. The interview follows:

UCA News: How did you start your e-mail ministry?

FATHER MATTHEW CHO MYEONG-YEON: After I graduated from the diocesan seminary, the rector asked me to study abroad. But I did not want to study anymore. Then the head of the diocesan communications office suggested I study computer programming for six months and then succeed him. I decided to do that, in 2001, because it was shorter than studying abroad for more than five years.

It was really hard and burdensome to study from 7 in the morning until 10 at night, which allowed me little time to pray and be by myself.

While wrestling with a computer all day long, I suddenly had doubts about my priestly identity because I, a Catholic priest, was thinking only about programming codes rather than prayer or reflection.

To strengthen my identity, I began writing daily reflections on the Internet and publicizing them on Good News on June 1, 2001. I have also publicized the messages on my own website.

Have you skipped publishing any days these seven years?

A few times — when I got stuck on an island due to bad weather and when my computer broke down. Because of that, I asked a fellow priest to write e-mail missives together, but he stopped after a year, saying it was too hard. Since then, I have been doing it alone.

When do you usually write and how do you prepare?

I always do it at dawn. I named it ‘Opening Dawn’ to express my desire to pray at dawn. I believe that a priest should have time to reflect by himself.

I became a priest nine years ago, after which it was really difficult to have my own time. Sometimes I drank with parish youths in the evening and sometimes I slept until late in the morning due to busy parish work [the previous day]. So I tried to find my own time during the day, and this I have found at dawn.

Now I usually get up at 3 a.m., reflect on myself and then write a story. I try to find a good episode in my daily life. I try to remind myself of the moments when I felt God was with me. Also, I try to read many books. I usually read three to four books a week, which gives me many ideas and resources.

What made you use your own life experiences?

In the seminary I was taught that our homily should explain Jesus’ words. So I prepared homilies by reading Bible commentaries or interpretations. But my homilies based on these are bookish, or difficult to understand.

When I was an assistant parish priest just after graduating from the seminary, a parishioner raised his hand during Mass and said: “You have told us many good words, but I do not understand any of it. Could you kindly explain once again?”

His complaint made me reflect deeply on my way of giving a homily. Jesus used many parables to help people understand his words more easily. Since then, I have always tried to approach Jesus’ words through my own experiences.

The number of subscribers is not large, but many of them post on your website’s bulletin board.

I do not care about the number. The number will increase when I publicize the website more. I started this ministry to renew myself as a priest by daily reflection and meditation, not to show off.

Surprisingly, there are many Protestant pastors among the subscribers. Some of them write to thank me. There are also Protestants, Buddhists, people who do not profess any religion and, especially, ‘non-practicing Catholics.’

The non-practicing Catholics seem to console themselves by reading my online messages. So I think this e-mail service can serve as a means to reach out to them.

Do you have offline meetings with your subscribers?

Not since 2004. Before that, I had such meetings once a month. But I met many strange people. They wanted to possess me. They usually wanted me to treat them special.

I now have seven “stalkers” who keep calling me on the phone. Some of them call me every five minutes. They just say, ‘I love you,’ or ‘Will you marry me?’

I do not write a story for a certain person. But some people misunderstand that a certain story is written only for them.

What are some memorable events from this ministry?

Some people said they started going for catechism classes to become Catholic after receiving the ‘Opening Dawn’ e-mail missives. Some seek counseling from me about their faith life. I just listen to them and tell them about God’s words, and they really thank me.

One person who had decided to commit suicide was advised [by other people] to subscribe to “Opening Dawn.” This person is now living well.

I think there are not enough counseling centers in the Church where people can share their hardships. Moreover, it is difficult for parishioners to meet their parish priest, who is always busy. But it is hard for an individual priest to run such a counseling center. The Church rather than an individual priest should run such counseling ministries.

You have written six books based on your online writing.

Reflecting on a year of writing refreshes me and helps my spiritual growth. In one year, I usually write about 700 A4 sheets’ worth of reflections. I rework the yearly output into essays aimed at reaching non-Catholics, as a kind of indirect evangelization.

More than 10,000 copies of each of the six books have been sold. All the income has been used to help the poor. Some people know me well and they lovingly nicknamed me ‘Bbadaking‘ (one who has the smoothest voice, like butter). But it is all because I am within the Church and I follow God. Therefore, I should use the income not for me, but for poor people.

What’s your view on the Korean Church’s Internet evangelization?

The Korean Church lags behind other religions in online evangelization. I left the diocesan communications office after heading it for two-and-a-half years. It was because I could not find a vision for the future, since the diocese did not invest in the field.

While Protestant Churches develop computer games for children’s catechism by using flash technology (an Internet tool to create animation and interactive programs), the Catholic Church does not try to invest in this. The Catholic Church only says, “You should have interest in the Internet.”

I worry that the Church prefers only secure investments and is reluctant to risk investing in the Internet.

Take diocesan websites, for example. Initially, the dioceses competitively built up their websites, but they now have not been updated or managed well. I think constantly updating an Internet website is vital because it gives people the assurance that they are seeing new information whenever they visit.

SLEMAN, Indonesia (UCAN) – Two Jesuit-run institutions based in Yogyakarta have set up a public space for young intellectuals to discuss issues related to multiculturalism.

Kanisius Publishing House and Realino Study Center have set up Multiculture Campus Realino within the Catholic University of Sanata Dharma in Yogyakarta Special Province’s Sleman district. Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the governor of Yogyakarta, inaugurated the campus on July 25. About 100 university students, lecturers and representatives of interreligious organizations attended.

At the opening, Jesuit Father Agustinus Sarwanto, director of Kanisius, told UCA News Multiculture Campus Realino is a space for “young intellectuals with fresh and healthy ideas to be relaxed and serious as well.” Accordingly, he said, “we provide books and magazines like Basis, which is often used by intellectuals as a reference for various social issues.”

Basis, first published in 1951, is a local Jesuit-run monthly magazine containing social and cultural analyses.
Besides providing a discussion room for people to sit on mats in traditional style, Father Sarwanto said the 600-square-meter campus has a cafe, a book showroom, a printing room and an open stage. All facilities, he pointed out, must deal with multiculturalism, and “the space is intentionally open so that youths in the area can easily watch or join in the activities.”

According to the priest, the campus was set up strategically near several other private and state universities, as well as student boarding houses.

Angelina Ratna Kumalasari, a 22-year-old student of the Catholic University of Sanata Dharma, welcomes the campus. “It is needed nowadays when many people feel more comfortable mingling only with people of the same belief, religion and culture,” she told UCA News on Aug. 5.

During the inauguration, Sultan Hamengkubuwono X acknowledged that Indonesia has one of the world’s greatest arrays of religions, ethnicities and cultures. However, even if “diversity is like a mosaic decorating this country so beautifully,” he noted that modernization, accompanied by a growing number of religious, ethnic and cultural issues, has brought about conflicts.

The governor, a Muslim, said he welcomes the new campus as a space that will enhance Yogyakarta’s image. The city, 430 kilometers southeast of Jakarta, is already known as “City of Tolerance.”
Kiai Hajj Abdul Muhaimin, who chairs the Fraternal Forum of Religious Believers of Yogyakarta, led the inauguration’s opening prayer.

He later told UCA News that Indonesia’s diversity of cultures and religions, with their various symbols and philosophies, is “extraordinary.” Stressing that one must appreciate, not reject, such diversity, the Muslim leader said he hopes people will wholeheartedly support Multiculture Campus Realino.

Jesuit Father Paulus Wiryono Priyotamtomo, rector of the Catholic University of Sanata Dharma, also attended the inauguration.

Kanisius Publishing House temporarily runs the campus, but there are plans to make it an independent institution in the future.

Two weeks ago, from 11 to 13 July, over 800 Catholics and other people of faith gathered in Philadelphia for a Convention for the Common Good, convened by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, and NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby. This historic gathering brought together delegates from more than 20 Catholic social justice organizations and religious communities, including dozens of individuals from Jesuit schools, parishes, and sponsored ministries.

One goal of the convention was to affirm the Platform for the Common Good that would then be signed by thousands of Catholics across the country and sent to both presidential candidates prior to their conventions this summer. In an effort to strengthen the Ignatian family’s work to promote the Common Good, the Ignatian Solidarity Network encourages you to read the Platform, share it with friends and family, and sign the document here: http://www.votethecommongood.com/. Catholics in Alliance and NETWORK are working to secure 10,000 signatures by mid-August.

Source: Ignatian Solidarity Network www.ignatiansolidarity.net

SLEMAN, Indonesia (UCAN) – Two Jesuit-run institutions based in Yogyakarta have set up a public space for young intellectuals to discuss issues related to multiculturalism.

Kanisius Publishing House and Realino Study Center have set up Multiculture Campus Realino within the Catholic University of Sanata Dharma in Yogyakarta Special Province’s Sleman district. Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the governor of Yogyakarta, inaugurated the campus on July 25. About 100 university students, lecturers and representatives of interreligious organizations attended.

At the opening, Jesuit Father Agustinus Sarwanto, director of Kanisius, told UCA News Multiculture Campus Realino is a space for “young intellectuals with fresh and healthy ideas to be relaxed and serious as well.” Accordingly, he said, “we provide books and magazines like Basis, which is often used by intellectuals as a reference for various social issues.”

Basis, first published in 1951, is a local Jesuit-run monthly magazine containing social and cultural analyses.
Besides providing a discussion room for people to sit on mats in traditional style, Father Sarwanto said the 600-square-meter campus has a cafe, a book showroom, a printing room and an open stage. All facilities, he pointed out, must deal with multiculturalism, and “the space is intentionally open so that youths in the area can easily watch or join in the activities.”

According to the priest, the campus was set up strategically near several other private and state universities, as well as student boarding houses.

Angelina Ratna Kumalasari, a 22-year-old student of the Catholic University of Sanata Dharma, welcomes the campus. “It is needed nowadays when many people feel more comfortable mingling only with people of the same belief, religion and culture,” she told UCA News on Aug. 5.

During the inauguration, Sultan Hamengkubuwono X acknowledged that Indonesia has one of the world’s greatest arrays of religions, ethnicities and cultures. However, even if “diversity is like a mosaic decorating this country so beautifully,” he noted that modernization, accompanied by a growing number of religious, ethnic and cultural issues, has brought about conflicts.

The governor, a Muslim, said he welcomes the new campus as a space that will enhance Yogyakarta’s image. The city, 430 kilometers southeast of Jakarta, is already known as “City of Tolerance.”
Kiai Hajj Abdul Muhaimin, who chairs the Fraternal Forum of Religious Believers of Yogyakarta, led the inauguration’s opening prayer.

He later told UCA News that Indonesia’s diversity of cultures and religions, with their various symbols and philosophies, is “extraordinary.” Stressing that one must appreciate, not reject, such diversity, the Muslim leader said he hopes people will wholeheartedly support Multiculture Campus Realino.

Jesuit Father Paulus Wiryono Priyotamtomo, rector of the Catholic University of Sanata Dharma, also attended the inauguration.

Kanisius Publishing House temporarily runs the campus, but there are plans to make it an independent institution in the future.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

By Renée K. Gadoua

Staff writer

Five men professed vows Saturday making public their commitment to live as Jesuits. The vow ceremony came during a Mass at Holy Cross Church, DeWitt.

The men, none of whom is from Central New York, have spent two years as novices. They are now known as scholastics in the men’s Roman Catholic community known as the Jesuits, or the Society of Jesus.

All intend to become priests, a process of study, prayer and ministry that could take up to 10 years. Sometime after ordination, they will profess final vows as Jesuits.

The men range in age from 24 to 34 and are members of the New York, New England and Maryland Jesuit provinces of the United States. St. Andrew Hall, the novitiate for the three provinces, is at Le Moyne College.

Before joining the Jesuits, the men worked in careers including the military and education.

There are about 18,800 Jesuits worldwide; that’s about 400 fewer than the previous year. About 2,850 Jesuits serve in the United States.

TOKYO (UCAN) – The Japanese magazine Yomiuri Weekly reported on July 20 the number of priests in Japan dropped about 82 percent from 1970 to 2005.

When that period began, the country had about 1.6 million priests, but now only about 300,000. The article goes on to mention that 30 percent of priests now serve multiple communities, some ministering to as many as seven or eight.

Since Japan is home to fewer than 440,000 Japanese Catholics, the numbers obviously do not refer to Catholic priests.

The article, entitled Otera ga naku naru! (The temples are disappearing!), shows how the decline in the number of Buddhist priests in Japan is leading to the closing of temples throughout the country. It cites figures from the government’s Agency for Cultural Affairs showing that the number of Buddhist temples has dropped from 96,000 to 86,000. As aging priests die or retire, the rate of decline will grow even steeper since there are few younger priests to succeed them. The New York Times (July 14, 2008) carried an article with the even more dire title, In Japan, Buddhism May Be Dying Out.

We are used to hearing and worrying about the Catholic clergy shortage. In the same 35-year period mentioned in the Yomiuri Weekly article, the Catholic Church in Japan experienced a 20-percent decline in the number of priests — from 1,926 to 1,542. So, by some measures, we actually are better off than the major traditional religion of Japan, though this is not much comfort in the face of our own problems.

What Buddhism faces in Japan puts our Catholic situation, and some of the proposed responses, into a new perspective.

Two solutions offered for the Church’s shortage of priests are a married clergy and better inculturation. The situation of Buddhism indicates that those suggestions, while valid for other reasons, will not solve our problems.

One unusual feature of Buddhism in Japan is that its priests are married. In fact, caring for a temple is usually a “family business,” with responsibility passing from father to son. Part of the reason for the decline in temple priests is the reluctance of priests’ sons to follow in their fathers’ footsteps, especially in rural areas where the young have left for life in the city and temple affiliation is dropping below 300 families, considered the minimum to support a temple, its priest and his family.

Powerful trends in society that cannot be countered by having a married clergy are at work. It is unlikely that simply having a married Catholic clergy will be any more successful than Buddhism in facing those trends.

Much of the talk of inculturation for the Church in Japan presents Buddhist meditation, liturgy, architecture, etc. as models for what we should be doing. While there are certainly reasons to de-Westernize Catholicism, it is not so clear that adopting Buddhist styles and practices will achieve much for us. After all, they are not working for Buddhism itself, as more and more people, especially in the cities, lose interest in what for more than a millennium has helped define traditional Japanese culture.

When I returned to Japan after some years away and was wondering in what sort of activities to engage, a Japanese Catholic told me, “Whatever you do, don’t get into religious archeology, caught up in Zen and other ancient religious forms. Look at Japan as it is today and find ways to proclaim the Gospel in this day and age.” His point, confirmed by the Yomiuri and Times articles, was that the days of Buddhism as an expression of Japan are ending as the nation becomes increasingly post-religious.

The decline of Buddhism is partly due to its failure to take bold steps to present itself to Japanese society as it actually exists today. Perhaps complacency based on being the traditional religion and a sense that, for the most part, there was no other option for people, kept Buddhism from responding soon enough to a changing world.

This sounds similar to the situation of Christianity in Europe, including those parts that have been traditionally Catholic. The situation in Asia is not significantly different. Even here, we seem to hold on to old institutions, styles and structures that, quite frankly, are not very successful in the present and will be even less so in the future.

Can we find a way to be Church that is not archeology, but which actually presents the Gospel in a way that answers the search of men and women in the 21st century and which, by doing so, will call forth ministers for that Gospel proclamation?

Finding a solution is not easy, but it is impossible if we do not grasp the problem. The way to find it is to step away from our institutions, prejudices and “comfort zones” to immerse ourselves in the hopes, fears and doubts of people around us. Laity, in particular, must develop the spiritual and intellectual tools to understand and respond, and the clergy must aid them in that development.

Buddhism may have lost its chance to speak to the hearts of Japanese in the 21st century. Will the Church be ready to take up that challenge?
——
Maryknoll Father William Grimm is editor-in-chief of Katorikku Shimbun, Japan’s Catholic weekly