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SSPX News Archive February
23, 2005
We have now two instances of our own on the difficulties entailed
in helping these brave people. We have made a bank to bank transfer
to help Fr. Rozairo make the downpayment on the 2 acres he is intent
in buying. 3 weeks after the transfer, the money had not yet arrived!
We are now going to trace it through our bank manager in the US.
The 2 acres plot should have been surveyed this week and the owner,
who lives in India, should come before the end of the month to sign
the document. With the continued flow of donations, we should now
be in a measure to cover more than half of the purchase of the property
for the 129 families. Fr. Rozairo managed to bring the cost down
to around US$180,000 from the original US$300,000 asking price!
The government has also increased the food rations for the 129 families
in the camp.
Part 1 -- Tsunami Report from a letter of Fr. Blute, January
31, 2005 Fr.
Blute
January 25, 2005 Dear Friends of SSPX ASIA, It has been a month now since the tsunami disaster, and I promised to give you some considerations on it, from a priest’s point of view. I was prompted to put my thoughts on paper while in Sri Lanka recently, having to reply to one specific insulting and blasphemous article. Here is my reply to this article (Part 1) with only very minor additions (mostly quotes), since this time my readers are mostly Catholics (not so in Sri Lanka, with a Buddhist majority).
India: They have nothing left This comes at the right moment for another reason. The Civiltà Cattolicà, the famous Jesuit Italian magazine, has just written an article in which the editor begins by discarding absolutely the element of Divine Justice one may see in this natural disaster. “First of all, it must be said that to see divine punishment in natural disasters, because of men's sins, is an error, which puts God, as revealed by Jesus in the Gospel, into question,” the editorial states. Moreover, the article not only eliminates the Divine Justice but boldly presumes that God has saved all the victims! “The way in which this (i.e. how good can come out of evil ) takes place is a great mystery for us, but precisely because God is good we must think that he would not permit these painful and tragic events if he was not able and did not have the intention to bring good out of evil for men,” the Jesuit editorial continues. “In his paternal tenderness, God was close to each one of those children and saved them in his Kingdom.” ( www.zenit.org Jan. 20, 2005) Such Jesuits ought to redo the first week of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius. In Part 2, I give you some updates on what we are doing to help the victims with the numerous donations received so far.
Part 1 : The Tsunami, An Act of God? Yes, indeed. Some people ( The Island, Sri Lanka, Jan. 15, p. 7) are wondering where was God on that morning of Dec. 26, and how could a loving God allow such a tragedy caused by nature, the worst so far in man’s history? This is but a normal reaction of one whose idea of God is very incomplete, erroneous and indeed blasphemous. Back in the 13th century, St Thomas Aquinas was already answering, in his Summa Theologica, those who object, at the sight of so many evils in the world, that there cannot be a God ruling the universe, that such a God, if he exists, could not, should not tolerate all the evils we see. St Thomas replied that God is so powerful as to draw good out of evil. The God of the Christians, the one and only true God, is all-perfect. That means not only all loving, all good, omnipotent, all wise, but also all just. We think, in our self-centeredness, that God owes us everything here below, that whenever something bad happens, it is the fault of God – ‘why did God do that?’ In such case we show our short-sightedness, we miss the big picture. Where was God on Dec. 26? “When the waves struck, God was where He always is — on His throne, working out His will, perfectly.” ( Straits Times, Singapore, Jan. 22, 2005, p.S13) And what was He doing? He was — as He had been doing for centuries, for millenia — ruling every single wave of the ocean:
The fact that we are used to the normal cycle of nature manifests that we accept, at least unconsciously, a law for the universe, therefore its Lawgiver. Then, to blame the Legislator for suspending for a few moments the normal rhythm of nature for reasons of His own is sheer blasphemy.
India:
Prudence must guide charity Who are we, who have enough difficulties in ruling our own little lives, to judge the Ruler of the Universe? Listen to Him answering Job — and through Job anyone who asks God the same question:
Even pagan Greek philosophers, using common sense principles — such as there is no effect without a cause, no order without a mind ordering things for a purpose — had no problem to accept that there is a Maker of the universe, ruling it, using it for His glory and our own good. St Thomas Aquinas taught in one of his sermons (Serm. Dom. 5), that although on one side, “creatures teach us to praise God because all of them do praise Him and invite us to praise Him (‘It is surprising, said St Augustine, that man doesn’t praise God unceasingly when all creatures invite him to do so’)”, on the other side, continues the Angelic Doctor, “we see all the creatures ready to punish those who revolt against God, according to Wisdom (16, 24): ‘The creature serving Thee, the Creator, is made fierce against the unjust for their punishment.’ ” We can add here a passage of St Ignatius of Loyola, completing what St Thomas Aquinas said about the creatures at the service of the Creator. In trying to make us understand the gravity of sin and our ingratitude when committing sin, St Ignatius asks each one of us, in the Second Exercise of the First Week,
Then, this consideration should be followed by
Need I add that the book of St Ignatius was approved by more than 40 popes? The bottom line in all this is the mystery of sin, which most of us and most of our contemporaries ignore or have forgotten. Now, let us apply all this to the tsunami. Why did God allow it? What good can come out of it? Firstly, on the occasion of this disaster, there has been great acts of charity and of generosity, and these are still being seen from everywhere at the sight of so much suffering. The tsunami is moreover a terrible lesson for the creature who ignores its Creator and His Law, it is clearly an act of the Divine Justice against sins which are a plague to whole modern world. This ought to be a warning for all. To prove this, let us glance for a moment at three of the areas most hit by the waves: Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Aceh, Indonesia. There are no doubt good people everywhere, even in Aceh, but Aceh is well known, for many centuries already, for its pirates. Back in the 16th century, St Francis Xavier had to deplore it. One of his most famous and historically documented prophecy concerns a victory over these pirates. (cf. Francis Xavier, His Life, His Times, by. G. Schurhammer S.J., 1980, vol. III Indonesia, pp.225-241) Nowadays, this part of the Indian Ocean, the Malacca Strait, is still a very dangerous one for ships. One has simply to search the internet to find recent documents proving this, such as those published by the International Maritime Bureau, describing pirates’ various recent attacks. “It is vital that action is taken by Indonesian authorities to ensure that vessels off the northern coast of Sumatra can navigate in safety,” IMB Director, Captain Pottengal Mukundan (Feb. 13, 2004). Phuket and the Thai coast have beautiful beaches indeed, may be called ‘Paradise’ for their natural beauties, but they are also a hot-bed of prostitution of every kind. A very well known fact. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka too is on the list of the countries where prostitution of children, especially along the coast, with its ‘sex tourism’, is a real national plague. Where in the world would you find (as one could see in Colombo until recently), as you arrive in a capital’s international airport, a huge billboard warning tourists not to touch the children? Now, it is worth recalling a terrible warning of the Divine Master for such sins: “But whosoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe in me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and [that] he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.” (Mt 18,7) Such sins cry vengeance to heaven. God is the defender of the innocent, yes, and He surely has the right to punish nations (and unfortunately that will include innocents as well) — in whatever way He decides —who let their children be thus abused. In Sri Lanka, we can add other reason for the fury of the sea. The Dec. 26 issue — note the date — of the Sunday Leader, p. 13, in an article headed: ‘Christians spend Christmas in fear’ described the violence against Christians nationwide. It specified that in 2003, 39 churches were attacked in and around the city with 91 other recorded incidents of arson, desecration of churches, etc., and in 2004, 78 similar incidents were recorded. In the same vein, just before Christmas this year, Buddhists put up posters on plastered walls, buses, train wagons, etc. insulting Our Lord Jesus Christ with the following: “Jesu baba thoth-tha babek the? Isn’t baby Jesus a helpless silly baby?” (cf. Catholic Messenger, Jan. 16, 2005, p.2). Well, we now have the terrible answer to this blasphemous question, from the One Whom “even the wind and the sea obey” (Mk 4, 41).
Will man learn from this sad chapter of history? Will man repent from his sins? I doubt. “The whole land is made desolate, because there is none that considereth in the heart.” (Jer. 12, 11) Life will go on, sinful habits will continue as if paradise was to be found on earth. It is not. We were told, by Swiss scientists in 2000, that a megatsunami is very likely to happen soon by the rupture of the Cumbre Vieja, a live volcano at the Canary Islands (see: http://www.es.ucsc.edu/~ward/papers/La_Palma_grl.pdf ). Will this imminent danger urge people to make their peace with God? Unlikely. Have mercy on us, O Lord! Modern madness and foolishness is no different now than it was 2000 years ago. It is part of fallen human nature to refuse to submit to reality and to the Almighty. It makes man inexcusable, because he refuses to be reasonable, logical. Thus wrote St Paul facing the same problems 2000 years ago:
The final lesson we can draw from all this is what Our Blessed Lord said when news came of the slaughter of some Galilaeans by Pontius Pilate:
“He that is able to understand it, let him understand.” (Mt. 19, 12)
India: Water marks at 6 inches from the ceiling
Part 2 – A report of the Relief given by the SSPX to the Tsunami Victims as of January 22, 2005 Letter to Father
Alain Lorans, Editor Singapore
Dear Father, God knows how to draw good out of evil, teaches St Thomas. Well, this Oriental drama that we have lived for more than 4 weeks, reveals, amongst other things, the secrets of many hearts: a very great generosity. We herewith want to profusely thank everyone who has sent donations. The figures that I submit to you below are the totals of the donations (mostly of private individuals) which were sent or announced to me by mail or email, by the benefactors, as of January 21 (NOTE: now updated to Apr. 26): they have either already arrived in our bank accounts, or are on the way. And I am still awaiting the result of many collections made here and there, worldwide, in Traditional Mass Centers.
Sri Lanka: Fr Pagliarani distributing food to more than 100 families
Here are two small examples among a thousand: A humanitarian organization arrived in Colombo airport with 2 containers of medical material. The custom officers wanted their share of the gifts! The NGO refused, turned around, and took off again immediately with its two containers of gifts for Indonesia. Another example, also in Sri Lanka: two individuals were caught by the police forces while reselling goods they had received for the victims. It is very sad, often shocking, because the serious needs are there. It should not be forgotten that the majority of the affected zones, except in the South of India, are pagan, a fact which does not help the practice of the virtue of justice. In India, we met some of the victims — poor fishermen — in order to see and discuss with them their needs. We decided, upon their advise, to buy for them a piece of land upon which the authorities are supposed to build them houses. After a bit of hesitation on the mechanics of this operation, we should be able to do it in the weeks to come. We have also decided to get a team of our own villagers to go along the devastated coast and see how we can help other families individually. I envisage to distribute about US$50,000 to them (approximately 40,000 euros) in the very near future. In Sri Lanka, we met the National Director of Caritas, a priest, who told us several things, inter alia that they did not have there alas a Catholic orphanage along the affected zone, and that the Archbishop was about to open one of them. In addition, this very friendly priest will keep us informed of long-term plans on which he is working and in which we will perhaps be able to collaborate.
Sri Lanka: The good Parish Priest worried for his 116 families
Sri Lanka: Refugee Camp for 116 families
Respectfully yours in the service of Our Lord and Our Lady, Fr. Daniel
Couture SSPX
Dear Friends,
2) Or you can deposit your donation to one of our two accounts below
with the corresponding account name and number, adding also the
mention for tsunami victims. In which case, please notify us also
here in Singapore (by letter or email) of your donation, to which
account, and for how much.
Interview
with Father D. Couture La Porte latine: Father, could you present to us the function you have in the Society? Father Couture: On August 15, 1996, the entire Asian continent was made a District, and I was named its first superior. In 1986, the priory of India had been opened as an Autonomous House. Then in 1992, that of the Philippines was also opened as an Autonomous House. To facilitate the contacts with the General House and increase the frequency of the visits of the superior, these two Autonomous Houses were then joined together in 1996 to form the District of Asia. La Porte latine: Your position as District Superior then enables you to know about practically everything about the Society in Asia? Father
Couture: Obviously. At this moment (April 1, 2004), we
have three priories and a novitiate for the brothers. The headquarters
of the District is in Singapore, with two priests; the priory of
Palayamkottai, in the south of India, also has two priests; that
of Manila, in the Philippines, has five priests (three of our Society
and two diocesan priests, of whom one has just joined us, a young
military chaplain). The Novitiate of the Brothers, in Iloilo, the
Philippines, has four priests (three of our Society and a diocesan
priest). The chapels are regularly served in nine countries of the
Orient, and two more countries are visited occasionally. Our District
(i.e., the part of Asia in which we work at this moment) is not
as large as the U.S.A. -- if you measure the latter including Alaska
and Hawaii --, but its variety is certainly larger. Consider this: Recently,
I have been able to accompany Father Thomas Onoda (the only Japanese
priest of the Society and who is stationed in Manila), to Sapporo,
in the island of Hokkaido, at the northern end of Japan. This small
mass center, which only has a few months of existence, is now at
the northernmost location of the District being at 43 degrees north.
Let us go down to the south: Jakarta, in Indonesia, where we also
started a little earlier, in October 2003, is located at 8 degrees
south, therefore in the Southern Hemisphere. >From Bombay at
72 degrees east (the mass center at the westernmost location) to
Sapporo at 142 degrees east (which is also the mass center at the
easternmost location), one needs a good 10 hours' flight on the
plane. It was in this way that we were able to make five visits to Vietnam, and many other visits to Thailand, especially to go to see Mgr Manat, a diocesan bishop and friend of Mgr Lazo (+ 2000) of the Philippines. La Porte latine: Can you tell us a little about your new implantations? Father
Couture: The latest two, as I have just told you, are Sapporo
and Jakarta. In Jakarta, the Providence put in "the net" for us a group of young Catholics, abandoned by their priest, who meet for the last several years in the house of one of them. I was to make a conference after the first mass, which took place in the chapel of a Franciscan novitiate (where the superior received us in shorts and T-Shirt!) and without knowing it, the conference took place in the house of this person where the young people meet. It was their first contact with the Tradition. They are about fifteen, aged from 17 to 35, a group of Catholic friends, not knowing their faith very much but hungry like nestlings when one arrives with the true nourishment. At Christmas, we made a mini three-day camp, of the MJCF style, in a superb natural setting - a botanical garden. With another few visits, they seem to have understood much on the crisis so that the majority of the group has stopped going to the new mass now. La Porte latine: And in the future, do you have new installation projects? Father Couture: It is always very interesting to talk with the people during these visits in new countries. We always discover beautiful souls protected by grace, and fighting for their faith. We have several Indonesians here in Singapore who encouraged me to go especially to the islands of Flores, in the mid-west region of Indonesia. "They are the most Catholic, Father!" However, according to the methods that our venerable founder left us, it is necessary to follow the Providence in our missionary expansion. Then, after the Christmas camp in Jakarta, I thought of asking the young people if they knew anyone in the islands of Flores. What surprise to find then that three of them have an uncle, a priest, over there, who fought for the traditional mass, was "suspended" by his bishop for this reason, and then sent to a small island without road or telephone... However, from Jakarta, one needs a good three-day journey to arrive at this small island, with planes and multiple ferryboat rides that must be taken. To follow the Providence... If we ever manage to meet this priest, another door might open at once: that of East Timor, which is only a few hours from there, by boat. At the time of God! La Porte latine: Father, can you describe to us your apostolate in Asia? Father Couture: Our apostolate, provided by various priories, resembles very much that of the other priories: masses, catechisms, visit of the sick, preparation of the parish bulletins and retreats. Here are more precise details of what each priory is doing. In India, our priests have a dozen mass centers located between the southern end of the country and the northwest, in Bombay. In the south there is a small school in one of the villages we serve, and the priory is used as a "Hostel", house for young people, approximately 27 of them, coming from various mass centers of ours and stay on pension to go to the schools of Palayamkottai. Manila, with its church, Our Lady of the Victories, is very lively with its 500 parishioners and the house of Bethany for the young ladies aspiring for the religious life. The priests of Manila are also in charge of Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. In Iloilo, as I have told you, there is a novitiate for the brothers of the Society. At this moment, there are three professed brothers, two novices, two postulants and two pre-postulants. In addition to the courses given to the brothers, the priests of the novitiate are in charge of the entire central and southern regions of these 7107 islands that constitute the Philippines, i.e., about 10 more mass centers. Quite recently, Dr Dick? of ACIM, came there to conduct a lecture tour and was able to speak to the students of five faculties of medicine, nearly 2500 students in all. La Porte latine: Were you not in Manila for some time? Father Couture: The headquarters of the District was in Manila from 1996 to 1999. In 1999, we opened the priory of Singapore to release some load from Manila, which was overflowing and lacking space. La Porte latine: Can you tell us a little about the friendly communities and the friendly priests? Father Couture: As I mentioned earlier, there are diocesan priests, here and there, who help us: three in the Philippines, and four to five in India. There are no traditional religious communities within the District, except for the sisters of Bethany who depend on the SSPX (see above). La Porte latine: What are your relations with the local episcopates? Father Couture: Classic: they would very much like to see us leave! Especially when one or the other of their priests comes to the Tradition. The only exception has been Mgr Manat, in Thailand, when he was a diocesan bishop. I was even able to preach a retreat of St Ignatius with this bishop as interpreter, to about fifty of his faithful! It was quite an experience. La Porte latine: And religious vocations? Father
Couture: We cannot but bless the Heavens, here. Although
not all of those who test their vocation reach the goal, at this
moment, there are Asians in the following communities: La Porte latine: All these fruits coming from the goodness of God, are they also the fruits of the work carried out for the schools? Father Couture: Not really because we do not have any secondary school at this moment. The crisis is, in some respects, coming a little late, due to the fact that these countries, except the Philippines, have never really been Catholic. Therefore, the Tradition can harvest in a land that still keeps some values. For example, the fact of living in poverty can very much help the detachment. The Indian brother who is in Morgon felt that he was moving up the social ladder in arriving at the monastery! La Porte latine: This immense District must be a heavy human and financial load. How do you manage it? Father Couture: Saint Joseph likes these mission lands and has always generously helped their missionaries of all times? La Porte latine: Can the internet readers of La Porte latine receive your news in any other way? Father
Couture: Yes, we have a few internet sites to try to gather
the souls of different languages: We even started
to prepare a website in the Thai language, but there are unforeseen
delays and it is not yet ready. It would be necessary to make websites
in Tagalog (the Philippines), Vietnamese, and Chinese! However,
it is the manpower that we lack. La Porte latine: We are moved and in admiration in the face of such an amount of devotion and confidence in the Providence. What can we do to help you? Father Couture: Pray, first of all. Really, from the time I came to Asia, I have seen with my own eyes the fruits of the prayer, of the communion of the Saints. Sometimes, during somewhat delicate missions, knowing that monasteries, kept abreast of the mission, were praying at the same time, I really felt that the Blessed Virgin was directing everything, opening unexpected doors, making us meet priests, bishops and souls of quality. I count very much on the prayer of others, our "spiritual troops", for the development of our missions. And then, good heavens, if anyone wants to help us materially, it will not be refused! All these flights on the plane (which are often the only means of transport to go from one country to another), we must pay cash! Then, there are constructions of chapels here and there (we have just started one in Iloilo). And regarding our young vocations in formation, all of whom come from poor countries, we cannot let them be supported by monasteries or seminaries? Lastly, let those who travel Asia not hesitate to contact us for the schedules and places of masses, etc. In any event, a big thank you to La Porte latine for making our District known. France has always distinguished itself much on its missions. It still does. Deo gratias! Father Daniel Couture +
August 24: Fr. Bourmaud left us to go back to his assignment in Goulburn, Australia. August 23: A veteran in the Singapore Mission, Fr. Gerard Hogan, graced us with his visit on his way to Australia, coming from Rome. In Rome, he was the beneficiary of a powerful, quasi-miraculous intervention of St Anthony, as he recovered his stolen suitcase that contained a lot of medication. August 22: Community outing at the highest summit in the Republic of Singapore: 164 meters! August 21: Fr. Davodeau returned from his missionary journeys to Vietnam and the Philippines He met at the airport Fr. Dominique Bourmaud SSPX, professor at Holy Cross Seminary, on a four day stop-over at the District headquarters. August 19: The Singaporeans Pilgrims returned from Rome, beaming with joy. August 2: Fr. Maurel, from Sri Lanka, came for a visit. July 30: Second wedding of the year. July 28: Fr. Davodeau, relieved form his school teaching assignment for the summer, came to Asia to give a most welcomed hand. June 5: Fr Vachon flew off to Australia for a week’s vacation. June 4: The three priests were invited to attend a concert by the world famous Tallis choir. The pieces sung were a mass by Palestrina, Allegri’s Miserere and a few other beautiful polyphonic masterpieces. It is quite interesting and amazing to think of a crowd paying relatively expensive tickets to listen to a choir singing the Common of the Traditional Catholic Latin Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Nicean Creed, etc.), in Latin, in a National Concert Hall. Latin is no longer a problem in such cases. It also shows the transcendence of the Catholic repertoire. June 3, Fr Juan Carlos Ortiz, Colombian priest of the SSPX, ordained in 1984 with Fr Couture, stopped over for a few days at the priory on his way to Australia. April 23 Easter Sunday: Eight children from the catechism class made their First Holy Communion. April 22 Easter Vigil: While the diocese of Singapore was receiving more than 1000 new Catholics in its bosom, Fr Couture was also privileged to baptize two adults and give them their First Holy Communion. April 17: First day of a three day Parish Mission. The SSPX Superior General made his first visit to the new District headquarters in between two flights (6 hour stopover). If for some people time is money, for others, time is a divine grace, a means to sow grace at any and every moment. Bishop Fellay found time to give an impromptu talk to the faithful on the latest events in the Church before ‘flying back’ to the airport to catch his midnight flight to Switzerland. March 13: Fr. Loschi stopped over for a day on his way home to Sri Lanka. March 3: On his way to Sri Lanka , Fr. Wailliez made a stop-over to visit Fr. Loschi. March 2: Fr. Loschi arrived from Sri Lanka to give a most welcomed hand to Fr. Vachon while Fr. Couture is away. February 24: Fr Couture left for a three week ‘working-holiday’ in Canada, presenting the work done in the Asian District to Canadian Mass centers, from coast to coast. February 21: Fr. Couture returned from Vietnam. January 6: Fr. Loschi returned to his Cinghalese mission field. 1999 December 29: Fr Loschi came from Sri Lanka to help out with the end of the year ceremonies. December 31 In many of our centers, as it had been requested by Bishop Fellay, the old year ended in front of the Blessed Sacrament and with the singing of the Te Deum. December 8: Many of our priests renewed their membership, their oblation within the ranks of the Society of St. Pius X. May we all persevere unto the end… November 17: Fr Vachon returned from his Canadian winter break. November 14: The two Fathers from England met the district Superior in Singapore Changi Airport in the evening and together they flew to Bombay then to Trivandrum, in the Southern province of Kerala, for the second priestly retreat. November 6: The Bishop almost missed his flight to Australia due to a visa complication resolved speedily by the good St. Rita (excellent in airport problems…). November 5: H.E. Bishop de Galarreta stopped over for 24 hours on his way to Australia. He was the first bishop to visit our new headquarters. In the evening he gave confirmations to 4 adults. |
