Tomorrow [Jan 2012] by Tomorrow Smota

Tomorrow Newspaper St Mary of the Angels

Issue No. 52 | January 2012

MICA (P) 010/09/2011

Instruments of God’s Peace RCIY Voices Not many Catholics will ever get to experience what it is like to say: “Yes, I want to be a Catholic!” Rather, we have no memory of being baptised at birth; almost no recollection of being in Catechism class; and possibly can’t even remember what last week’s Gospel reading was. So what is it like for converts who actively pursue a relationship with God and a place in this community? Tomorrow speaks to two catechumens from the Rite of Christian Initiation for Youths (RCIY) and find out what their struggles and achievements are in this beautiful journey.

By C h e r y l E d i n a T e o

hile my decision to participate in the 2011 Kuching trip was one of haste, it was a decision which I will never regret. Having been to Kuching five years ago, my expectations of this trip was based on the vague memories I had. Therefore, there was little anticipation. As we travelled further and further away from the town and into the village, the roads got darker and quieter. I marvelled at the simplicity of the village – the total lack of metallic structures, skyscrapers, ubiquitous technology and mechanization – and I felt so at home amid the peace and serenity. It was the perfect place for me to recollect and revel in God’s glory after a hectic semester in school; the perfect escape from the consumerist chaos which ensues from the retailers’ vision of Christmas in Singapore. The night was dark and silent but it was during this “holy darkness” when the light of the moon and the stars shone even more radiantly. The sincerity and warmth of

the people amazed me and left me in awe and admiration. A particularly memorable experience was when we went for a jungle hike up a hill. The youths of the village helped and guided us patiently as we made our way up and down the demanding and laborious route; supporting us and ensuring our safety. It was also during this jungle trekking when I felt so close to God. With every step I took, apprehension followed closely. Yet, with every step I took, He was there to ensure no harm would come our way. The final night at the village was beautiful. Not only was it a very starry night, it was also a night filled with lots of fun, joy and laughter. We planned a Christmas party for the kids living in the village and seeing the smiles etched so deeply on the kids’ faces left a sense of joy etched deeply in my heart. Their simple lives allowed them to appreciate even the simplest gifts. And it is also this appreciation of simplicity which allowed them to lead such a carefree lifestyle. Live music was being played on and on by the band while everyone danced through the night. The warmth and joy transmitted through

song and dance transcended our cultures, languages and nations as everyone was moving in unison and unanimity. The cheer of the night contrasted with the many crestfallen faces that bade us goodbye the following morning as a strong sense of reluctance loomed over our youths and those of the village when we were leaving the village. Goodbyes were said after phone numbers and email addresses were exchanged and our yellow school bus brought us to the Catholic Memorial & Pilgrimage Centre (CMPC) at Mt Singai. We divided ourselves into smaller groups and embarked on our climb up the mountain. While the journey up was not as arduous as the jungle trekking at the village, climbing up flights of stairs with our heavy bags was no mean feat. The 14 Stations of the Cross were located along the way up to CMPC. Not only was I reminded of Jesus’ journey to Calvary, carrying the weight of my bag upon my shoulders also served as a reminder of the Cross Jesus Continued on page 2...

Brian Tee, 15 (red, in picture) “I used to follow my mom to another parish where the Masses were boring and I always dozed off. But Masses here at St Mary’s are always interesting and I never ever fell asleep no matter how tired I am. I decided to join RCIY at St Mary’s, hoping to make new friends too. The first few sessions were quite boring as there were only a few people who joined but after a couple of weeks, there were more people joining and I started acquiring more knowledge about my faith. Now, I don’t even need my mom to nag at me to go; I’m always looking forward to sessions! I just went for the Kuching retreat, which I was initially apprehensive about as I’ve never participated in anything like this before – it was full-on eight days, surrounded purely by peers of the same faith. I made so many friends and we all celebrated together in this Christmas spirit, which I’ve never felt before. I’ve never felt more belonged to this religion, to this community.” Lorena Chan, 13 (purple, in picture) “My godma felt that I wasn’t learning enough in Baptism class at another parish and transferred me to RCIY here. There wasn’t a sense of belonging during the first few sessions but looking back now, the past few sessions have been very different. I’ve learned so much over the months and made many new friends. The teachings by the catechist are really important as they help me in strengthening my faith. My friends from my previous Baptism class fail to understand many things about the religion and have just given up. The Kuching trip really showed me the beauty about being a Catholic – the people in the kampungs are poor and live in small, rundown houses but they proudly display pictures of Mother Mary and Jesus all over their houses. They are so happy just the way they are! I really enjoyed the Christmas celebration with the new friends I’ve made. To anyone who is thinking about joining RCIY, do not hesitate. I’ve now come to realise that for everything we do, God is always behind us.”

God’s whisper

henever I hear the story of Elijah encountering God in the gentle whisper, memories of the recent Kuching mission trip, organised for the youths here, quickly flood my mind. The story holds not only the perennial truth that the Lord reveals himself in moments seemingly insignificant to us, but also the importance of humility and eagerness in wanting to hear Him. Looking back, the innumerable number of such instances has allowed me to experience the glory of our Creator in a manner previously unbeknownst to me. In many ways, the trip has opened my eyes to the wonders that God has implanted in all his creation and also allowed me to form stronger bonds within the community. I was once quizzical about the sentiments of those who had gone for overseas mission trips and how they became more contented with their present lives. However, having gone for one myself, my whole mindset has been reversed and can now personally validate that the journey we had in Kuching had, indeed, made me a more thankful and gracious person. The warmth and hospitality we strangers had received from those who reside in the kampung were truly enthralling. Their kind acts ranged from allowing us to bask in the serenity of their home to ensuring our safety as if we were their sons or daughters. The pure joy they possessed was most evident during a praise and worship session at their chapel named St Agnes. There was but a simple stage and a four-piece band, but all it took was the enthusiasm of everyone in that chapel to make the entire session the memorable experience it was. Grinning children and youth surrounded us, their spirits aroused by the steady beat of music, their bodies moving animatedly to action-songs and, most of all, their faces lit up with jubilation. All this, set against a background so simple, made me realise that material possessions, or lack thereof, do not account for one’s happiness. Instead, it is the amount of satisfaction and thankfulness which indicates just how joyful one is.

By J e r e mi a h Lim

In addition to the spiritual growth, the trip was also an opportunity to befriend others and expand the boundaries of my social circle. Prior to the event, I was genuinely worried by the fact that none of my close schoolmates were going to accompany me for the whole week and worse still, the reality that I had never attended any church-based camps before made it much worse. Would that lead to me being labelled as the “emo” kid? Well, all this worrying was quickly proven futile as soon as I opened up to my fellow “Kuchingers” (a term we had coined for youths who have gone for the mission trip), freeing myself from the grounded mentality I had about the strangers around me – mostly other youths from my confirmation batch and the awe-inspiring RCIY participants – and just being my jovial self. To my pleasant surprise, they were not as different from the ones I had usually surrounded myself with, just that we were a more eclectic mix. As we journeyed on, everything seemed to click as our collective efforts in helping out at the Old Folks Home, carolling with the villagers and spending time together in the Mt Singai retreat centre, bonded us to deeper levels of friendship. I believe that all of us had grown closer to one another, such that we now arrange to go for Mass and celebrate Christmas as a small community. I am dearly thankful to God who has allowed me to find and spend time with such a vibrant community, one that would surely be hidden from me if I had not chosen to go for the trip. Never would I imagine learning and growing so much from a week’s worth experience away from the hectic life in modern Singapore – quite the paradox, since the latter, though aimed to stimulate our minds to greater thinking, tend to wear us and bring us down to our knees. This said, our eagerness to seek God in the busy lives we lead, must never falter. Our senses sharpened, so that we may hear the Lord’s gentle whisper.

Reflections from Kuching

he friendships that were forged, the hospitality of the kampung people, the smile on their faces and how I have been brought closer to God are a few of the reasons why I went back to Kuching this year.

a wide smile on their faces and are always optimistic. They may not have as much luxuries as us, but the strong faith that they have in God is not as commonly seen back here in Singapore.

Last year, as a fresh participant of the mission trip, I went to Kuching with no idea of what was going to happen. But through that one week journey consisting of a retreat in Mount Singai and our stay in Kampung Bayur, I have made new friends, enjoyed the simple lifestyle there and have been brought closer to God spiritually.

For example, the youth and children would go carolling at a few houses each day for more than a week as they want to make sure everyone would be involved in this Christmas spirit. The way that they sing during mass, praise and worship or during their door-todoor carolling also inspired me. Even though they celebrate mass in a simple chapel only once a month, the hymns were sung with so much passion and emotion.

This year, I decided to go back to Kuching once again as I want to experience the simple, yet profound sense of peace and joy that cannot be found in Singapore. Even though the people in the Kampong lead a simple lifestyle, they always have

My experience in Kuching this year was quite different as compared to last year as the order of the retreat and the kampong stay was different. This year, to start the ball rolling, we went to a home for the aged and helped to clean the place up. We stayed in

Soaking in the Kampung Spirit By M av is Ta n

he Kuching mission trip was indeed an amazing experience. I was most touched by the people in the kampung, how they live such a carefree and simple life but are still so happy and contented with what they have. It really makes me wonder why they seem to be much happier in life compared to us when we have so much more than them. We are constantly seeking more things; more money, more materialistic possessions, more friends etc. In contrast, they do not seek for much and are grateful for what they have. Even though they are poorer when it comes to material possessions, it is undeniable that we are the ones whom are truly poor in heart and in spirit. While I was living in the kampung I seemed to have no problems adapting to their lifestyle, probably because it was so enjoyable for me. They were such warm and friendly people, and made us feel extremely welcomed. One thing which struck me most there was their praise and worship. I was observing them as they danced and sang to the music, and wondered how they were filled with so much happiness and seemed so carefree without a worry in the world. It was then I

realised it was because they were singing and dancing out of their love for God. As someone else had said, they indeed had great spirit – a spirit of giving that is not often found in Singapore. During my stay in Mount Singai, I was able to bond more with my group. Perhaps it was the games that made us bond more, or perhaps it was because we were able to share our problems with each other, but either way, we had certainly bonded spiritually as we learnt more about God. The stay there has also brought me closer to God. During our reflection, I was able to reflect in a quiet and peaceful surrounding which would not have been possible in such a hectic place like Singapore, and was able to sense God’s presence. It reminded me that God is always with us in whatever we do, and that even though we have been hurt and grown weary by the obstacles in life, we should always believe and hope in Him. This had been an amazing experience; one that I will certainly not forget. I am also very thankful that I was able to have the chance to go on this trip and would like to encourage more of our youths to go on this trip too, to grow closer in God and strengthen their faith.

By M e l iss a Ti o n g

St Luke’s for the first two nights, which was something that I did not experience last year. There, we practiced our songs that were to be sung during carolling, played bonding games and prepared for our children’s Christmas party that was going to be held in the Kampung. Following this, we went to Kampung Serumah and were warmly welcomed by the villagers with a short traditional dance performance by some of their dancers. Then, we were split into groups and our individual hosts brought us back to their houses. After walking around the village, we spent the following two days doing activities that were planned by the youth of Kampung Seruma; such as visiting the waterfalls, doing morning exercises with the villagers, following them to houses for carolling and last but not least, the children Christmas party that we organized. The children were very shy at first, but after mingling with

them for awhile, they started to open up and the Christmas party was a huge success! Everyone poured their hearts and souls into the simple games that were played and made them seem so fun. After spending about four days in Kampung Serumah, it was time we left for our retreat in Mount Singai, we exchanged numbers and bid the villagers goodbye. Next, we headed up Mount Singai; saying simple prayers as we went up the fourteen Stations of the Cross. All of us enjoyed the beauty of nature in Mount Singai and the peaceful atmosphere there was perfect for our morning, afternoon and evening prayers as well as reflection and sharing sessions. As we trekked up the mountain after going to the Kampong, I felt that we had more to reflect upon, like how fortunate we are compared to others and that we should be appreciative of whatever we have.

Fishers

of Men! Instruments of God’s Peace (Cont’d) Continued from page 1... had to carry. It was a meaningful climb. I had the opportunity to get to know the youths in my group better. Their child-like innocence and prayers were interesting, intriguing and inspiring and I was much edified.

out so that I could feel in control of what was to come. In the process of all these, I lost sight of prayer – of letting go to let God take over. On hindsight, the anxieties, worries, complaints and grouses were all unnecessary and I ought to chastise myself for being such a “man” of little faith. Having faith, especially in the most trying moments, was the greatest takeaway.

I was tasked to carry out the prayers and reflection sessions at Mt Singai. Things, however, were very impromptu and preparations were inadequate. Electricity was not a given and we could only hope that there would be lights. We were lucky to have them till 11pm on the first night but on the second night, we hardly had any electricity. Under the moonlit darkness, candles and torches were our guides through the darkness. By God’s grace, everything worked out and everyone pulled through. This served as a major realisation of my lacking trust in the Lord. I wanted things to be perfectly planned

The start of the trip saw me being burdened by numerous baggage, however, somewhere along the road, I lost some, threw away some, emptied some and offered some up. The journey down Mt Singai and back from Kuching was lighter, easier and much happier. Many a times I was rendered speechless by God’s creation and many a times I was (and still am) humbled by the immensity and intensity of God’s love for His creatures. It is such times when I am reminded that I have to constantly cling on to the foot of the cross and pray to be an instrument of God’s peace.

We also helped to paint the benches and railings of the Grotto of Mother Mary and played bonding games. The peaceful environment in Mount Singai helped us to calm ourselves as it takes us away from the hectic lifestyle that we have in Singapore. This retreat helped us become closer to God and also to our peers. Something special about this year’s Kuching trip was that some of the participants were from the Rite of Christian Initiation of Youths (RCIY) and the rest was from secondary 3 instead of secondary 4. The youths from RCIY were very shy at first and did not mingle with the rest from the secondary 3 batch, but after our stay at St Luke’s, they started opening up and a many of them had lots to share and ask during our retreat up at Mount Singai, such as why they decided to convert into Christianity, what confirmation name they should get, what does the names represent et cetera.

Therefore, I feel that having the retreat after the Kampong stay was a splendid idea and even though it is my second time in Kuching, I’ve learnt so much from this trip, made many new friends and also learnt to lead the participants in a sense as I had an idea of what the trip would be like. This experience also brought me to a whole new level to not just leading, but to serve others before myself. I do not regret going back to serve and given the chance, I would still go back to Kuching or to Sabah to help out as through these trips, it has brought me to know God better and to strengthen my faith in God. Also, as the people in the Kampong rarely have visitors, it warms my heart to see all of them having smiles on their faces and enjoying every single moment we spent with them during this Christmas season. It was indeed a very memorable experience, something that I will never ever forget.

On Dec 5, 2011, 65 youths between 9 to 16 years old participated in St Mary of the Angels’ inaugural fishing trip with Father John-Paul Tan at Bedok Jetty. Ryan Marcus Colond, an intern at the Young and Young Adults Office (YYAO), shares his experience.

week before the big day, online registration numbers had prepared me for 40 participants. However, as the days went by, this number steadily increased and by mid-morning of Dec 5, 17 more youths had registered. In addition to this impressive turnout for a maiden initiative, phone calls to the YYAO to request a place for “just one more…” were heard every half hour! At 5pm, the numbers were finally tallied and a total of 65 excited youths were packed into a bus, setting sail for what became a night to remember. Upon reaching the jetty at East Coast Park, I was pleased to observe the initiative and helpfulness of our church youths. They assisted us with the unloading of fish food, human food, rods and other fishing equipment, carrying all these stores to the end of the jetty. The obliging and helpful nature of our youths went a great way in easing the disembarkation, and a spirit of cheerfulness and cooperation filled the air. A perfect start! After a short briefing by Father JohnPaul, our youths began to cast their lines. However, as a majority had never fished before, most waited patiently to be shown how to attach a hook and sinker to a line, and to be instructed in the method of casting a rod. Finally, equipped with basic instructions, most of them adopted the classic trial-and-error approach to figuring out things such as the optimal size of bait and where best to cast their lines. Thankfully, the waters around Bedok Jetty are rich with shoals of small fish and it was not long before shouts of excitement were heard as many groups reeled in their first catch. Not long after the first catches, the chaperones and I realised that dark rain clouds loomed on the horizon. As we watched the buildings of the Marina Bay Sands resort being ‘blessed’ by the heavy rain and kept an eye on the rain clouds moving towards us, dinner was quickly distributed and we prepared ourselves for the worst. Thankfully, by God’s grace, not a single drop of rain hit us that night. The weather remained perfect, and in the cool of the wind, the evening progressed. There is a saying that patience is not caught but gained through experience. In a society where teen culture revolves around hightech gadgets and millisecond processes, fishing turned out something that most youth found difficult to appreciate. The

original enthusiasm that this trip had begun with slowly faded and many began to get restless. However, trapped by the confines of the jetty, the youths played simple games, making the most of an evening that I thought had otherwise been lost. Some competed with each other, seeing who could catch the most number of fishes. Others invented new ways to lure the ‘savage beasts of the deep’ through methods like using small fish as bait for bigger fish or attaching light sticks to the ends of their rods. There were also a few innovative ones who wanted to get more action than watching their friends fishing with the shared rod. These creative youths found themselves reels of nylon, attached a hook and a sinker, affixed a small piece of bait and sat down at an angle such that it was as good as a rod. The proof of its feasibility came when one of the girls actually caught a small fish with such a set-up! Too soon, the time came for us to call it a night and we ended on high spirits, for a respectable number of small fishes – about 40 or so – had been caught by our novice fishermen. Despite the event itself coming to a close, our young people once again proved their age by the unrelenting chatter that filled the bus, on the journey back to church. Thanks to the prayers of many, the fishing trip turned out to be a great success. The learning did not stop there. The fishing trip not only saw many youths picking up the art of fishing but also got them thinking about the many blessings that God had given them. It is important to recognise events like this not as a secular outing but as an opportunity to strengthen each of their own personal faith journeys. Amid the laughter and chatter of their friends around them, our youths were given a chance to begin a search for a deeper message that spoke to them from the gentle winds and lapping waves at the jetty. From the many smiles that shone that night to the heart-warming fellowship that was shared, it was truly an inspiring testimony to God’s wonders and gave me faith in the direction of our YYAO and the events we organise. It is my hope that many more will join us in future events and challenge themselves to glorify God even in daily events of their lives.

A Majodi Miracle

ome of us went away to rediscover who we were, some to discover where God could be. For me, I wanted to know who He is.

Sabah Mission Trip

Conquering Challenges for God’s Glory By C h r is ta b e l l e C h e a h

“I

started praying in a way that I’ve never did and I started doing things not for the sake of doing so but because I knew the purpose of it,” says Kannath David. “God spoke to me in a whole new way that has never happened before and the experience I felt there with no obstacles blocking my path to reaching out to God was wonderful.” The Sabah mission trip proved to be grueling for most of us as many were worried about handling the drastic change between city life and kampung life and getting along well with each and every person on the trip. The trip got off to a rocky start, with one of our fellow group mates coming down with an infection and another falling sick due to a virus. Many were worried and didn’t know what to expect in the days to come. All of us could only just hope and pray for the best. However, amid all the obstacles that came our way, we still continued with what we went there to do – to help paint the chapels and to help the villagers and the community where they most needed help. Once we were done painting the chapel at the FSIC Retreat Centre, we left and headed off to the retreat centre at Bundu Tuhan. It was a long and grueling ride and we had to leave one of our group mates behind as she was still unwell. Our spirits were dampened with one less person in our group but that didn’t stop us from spreading the Christmas spirit around to the people in the kampung through caroling and simply spending time under the night sky bonding with our new friends whom we met in Sabah while singing a song about how much we love God. Days went by and by the grace of God, those who were unwell gradually started feeling

better. Some of us believed that it was God’s will that our first trip to Sabah had to be filled with so many complications from having several people fall sick to others getting stung by bees. Already, getting used to kampong life was a challenging task, and none of us expected that all these other challenges would come our way. However, as much as there were sleepless nights where the catechists following us has to stay up all night to ensure the well-being of everyone and times where some of us jut wanted to go back to our comfortable beds and nice toilets in Singapore, we still went through with the trip. Through it all, everyone pushed and motivated each other and even when we were all tired from painting the chapels and drained from the long bus rides up to the mountains and the kampung, we made it through. And looking back at the end product of the nicely painted chapels and how much joy we have brought to the children in the kampung, it definitely made this trip worthwhile. For some, we learnt how God can bring so many people together with one common goal and to do everything for His glory, and for others, it was simply to learn not to judge others so as to see the greatness that everyone has within them. This trip definitely brought the hearts of 24 people who may not have known each other closer together. And for many, it left a warm feeling in our hearts knowing that we had bonded with a group of people who shared a common faith and to also know that we need not be ashamed of doing or participating in something Christ-related. As Kannath says, “I hope that each and every Confirmand out there will be able to experience what I did in the years to come because it is one which will be remembered for life.”

For three days, from Dec 16r, a group of 13 junior catechists spent their weekend at the Majodi Retreat Centre in Johor, Malaysia. This retreat was to serve as a journey of recollection and preparation for the coming of the Lord into our lives this Advent, into our work in ministry, the service of our youth Confirmands, and also in preparation for next year’s Confirmation Camp. From a heated discussion on the topic of Catechesis to submerging ourselves into the silence, the retreat had something in store for everyone. The biggest part of the retreat was the silence that we all entered into. For 16 hours, we were to keep silent and soak in everything around us – from nature, to the noise around us, and to the noise inside of us. For all of us, it was the first time experiencing the silence. What happens in the silence is that thoughts that are kept hidden from ourselves rise to the surface. For some, vague illusions of the past that were shoved to the deepest corners of our memories sought the light. In the stillness of the silence, our eyes and hearts widen as we soak in the beauty of God’s creation, suddenly overcome with new-found appreciation for nature. And in that silence was where some of us rediscovered ourselves, some heard God, and for myself, felt the fear in knowing God. The silence however, was not entirely a joy ride. I experienced the frustration

By K at h e r i n e A r t e c h e

in the silence, probably triggered by the arising prompting thoughts or the forbidden outbursts of sharing with the fellow catechists. For 16 straight hours we all held our tongues, eating our meals in silence and limiting all forms of communication to the slightest of nods and smiles in acknowledgement. The binds came free when the time was up and tongues were allowed to be let loose, creating a threshold for regurgitation of words that spilled from the heart as we shared our lonesome experience with one another. I came into the retreat hoping for a tighter community with numerous sharing sessions that would reinforce our bonds. What surprised me was that during the silence, the Holy Spirit was working its way through all of us, creating this strong spiritual bond that could not be expressed through words but instead was felt through a strong, unanimous feeling that aroused among us, unknown to ourselves. When our three-day journey to Majodi concluded, it was however not the end, but the beginning for this community of junior catechists to take the first big step together and allow ourselves to be His tool as He works His way through us to the Confirmands, with Christ as our teacher. ‘Fear is from within, not in the silence.’ With that quote, I believe everyone should instill silence into their lives. Ravel in the mystery of the silence and confront the fear from within. For if we keep still and listen, in the silence is where we will hear His voice.

The Angelic Inn

he Angelic Inn is a new ministry that was formed by the Chinese community at St Mary’s because we are aware that they are many Chinese workers, students and new immigrants staying around the West district of Singapore. Many of them here in Singapore are staying alone, or just a mother and child, or only with the spouse. Even though they often stay in close proximity with other fellow countrymen, their long working hours prevent them from interacting with each other. Often they lack social support from friends and families which we often take for granted. In order to help give them a better sense of belonging and help them integrate into our society, the Chinese community in St Mary’s has rallied together to reach out to them to show our care and concern as a part of God’s big family. The name “The Angelic Inn天使驿站 (Tian Shi Yi Zhang)” was adapted from a reststop in ancient China where travellers are welcome to rest and exchange for a fresh horse before continuing on their long journey.

Behold, King of All Angels!

The new Ministry will provide the Chinese workers, students with parents, or new immigrants with a place to exchange some news, learn English, sing some songs, view some videos, read, and do some arts and crafts etc. Perhaps some will get to encounter the presence of God in the future.

By H u b e r t Y e o

With the blessing of Parish Priest Fr John-Paul Tan, we were honoured to have with us on Dec 11 about 100 Chinese workers, new immigrants and friends from nearby squatters at our Christmas celebration. More than half of the participants acknowledged that this was their first Christmas celebration. After a sumptuous meal, our choir serenaded us with beautiful Christmas carols. The rooms were filled with festive joy and peace as our new friends engaged in some games and decorated little Christmas trees as gifts to bring home.

we are sure that somehow they were touched by the love of God.

Even though the party was without the traditional wine and turkey, the atmosphere was filled with fun and laughter. From the gleeful and delightful faces of our visitors,

If you are interested to share some of your time in this ministry as a volunteer to conduct courses, you are welcome on board. Contact us at smotachinese@gmail.com.

The service team too were enriched by their first experience of running such a meaningful party with brothers and sisters from afar. The follow up session for the Chinese immigrants and workers will be once a month; as we gathered from their evaluation forms, they are hoping for more activities in future such as movie shows, English lessons, reading, music and song, arts and crafts.

Space in the Heart for Art

t dusk on Dec 3, roughly 50 people – myself included – gathered in the main church for a time of quiet reflection and adoration. Titled “Venite Adoremus” after the famous Christmas hymn “O Come Let Us Adore Him” and organised by the Youth and Young Adults Office (YYAO), this period of reflection revolved around the themes of love, and changing for the better at the start of a new year in the Church. Director of the YYAO, Ann, got the ball rolling by introducing the group to what the session was all about, and how exactly it was relevant to Advent. Like all other sessions in Church, we began with a prayer, which was followed by a short speech by her. She possessed a sincere air while speaking to us – something that many lack when conducting such programs. It’s something that we all may learn from. In the future, we may be asked to share our belief and faith with others. Be sure to mean what you say; follow your heart, be guided by the Holy Spirit and nothing will go wrong! At this juncture, we watched a video that highlighted the importance of change, love and forgiveness; these three values are indeed essential to lead a harmonious and peaceful life in and with Christ. We only have so much time in our lives, and there are definitely many aspects that may be improved. If opportunity comes knocking, why not then? Post-its and pens were then given out and we were told to write down one thing in our life that we will give up for the love of God and His heavenly son, Jesus, who will come into the world to save all on Christmas day. It was a provocative period for all as each of us confronted and grappled with the fears and obstacles in our lives; nevertheless, this window of opportunity to ponder over them was excellent in evoking the willingness – and the will – to change indeed. This was followed in succession by a litany to Jesus while kneeling down. A cork board was brought out, and we were called to paste our intentions before the Blessed Sacrament, but not before giving Jesus the proper respect he deserves first. Most of us went up and did exactly that – some added a short prayer, and after everything, we were given a little quiet time to recollect our thoughts and reflect on our life. In the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, it is undeniably important for us to find some quiet time for ourselves and Jesus, to reflect and reach deep within your heart. Often, we get so caught up interacting with others that we forget about the self.

“I found the workshop interesting, fun and I also got to make new friends and interact. It supports my learning. I painted the Messiah and I’m considering mounting it on my wall” - Donovan Loh Wei Chuen, one of six participants who attended the Heartspace Holiday Programme for Pri 4-6 students

Nightfall came, and we concluded exuberantly in quintessential style by lifting up our voices to the Lord. As Christmas draws near and our schedule – once again – enters the hustle and bustle of parties, celebrations and family gatherings, let us not forget that Jesus’ biggest desire when He enters into this world will be your return of His love, and perhaps a birthday wish; so when you’re sitting alone in one of the church pews, look up and wish Him a very happy birthday, yes?

Christ our Savi

is bo

Tomorrow and the Luminaire team wishes you a Merry Christmas and a very blessed 2012!

viour

orn!

CGS: No Child’s Play By S t e p h e n W o n g

ike any other good Catholic parent, I always wonder how I should share my faith with my two children as they grow up. How do I let them know who Jesus is? How do I help them build a relationship with Him? How do I help them answer their call to discipleship? It was with these objectives that I decided to sign up for the Catechism of the Good Shepherd (CGS) Catechist course. Incidentally, the week-long course, held from Nov 28 to Dec 3, was hosted in our parish. I had heard a lot of positive things about CGS many years ago, when it was first started, from friends whose children started attending CGS. However, hearing their stories at that time did not really excite me per se as I was still single then and raising children was not on my list of priorities. The course was facilitated by two ladies from Australia, Mary and Ann, who are also members of the Australian CGS Association and have been CGS catechists for many years. Most of the almost 40 participants were parents of either 2 or 3 kids, with some even having 4 kids. The first thing that impressed me most was when these parents shared their reasons for being there. All had a story to share of how the Lord led them to this course and many of those whose children were already attended CGS were, in a way, led to this course by their children. “I joined because I wanted to find out what CGS is all about since Emery has been attending. And I thought it would also help me share the faith better with a child,” said Evelyn Tang, a parishioner of St Mary’s and a mother of 1. Another participant, Mary-Ann Tan, a mother of 2, shared a similar story: “My son, Christopher, attends the Saturday CGS session at St Mary’s. I’ve always wondered what he does exactly at the Atrium. He looks forward to going to Atrium every Saturday morning but doesn’t say much when I ask him what transpired during the session.

Being a typical ‘kiasu’ (Hokkien for ‘afraid to lose out’) parent, I thought that perhaps by joining the CGS training session, I would be able to find out more about what takes place during the sessions and ‘supplement’ this at home. How humbling, then, to find out that the adults in the atrium are not there to teach; we are there merely to facilitate the development of the child’s relationship with God.” Indeed, as the course unfolded, many were struck by the new perspective and method of catechising our children from the tender age of 3 years old. The CGS catechist is not there as a teacher to “teach” the “students” i.e. the children. Rather, the CGS catechist is there merely to facilitate and create an environment for the child to develop his or her relationship with God. This is done through presentations, raising reflective questions for the child to ponder on, and most importantly, preparing the right environment for these to happen. The only teacher is Christ, who will instruct both the adult catechist and child through the “work” done in the atrium. I believe many parents reading this would jump up and claim their child is so restless and noisy, it would be close to impossible that they even keep quiet to “ponder” and “reflect”. Yet, Dr Maria Montesorri, founder of the Montosorri approach to education, discovered in her scientific research that children are lovers of silence and that they have amazing mental concentration. These are but two of the 10 characteristics of children she discovered. It was also with these Montesorri principles that Dr Sofia Cavalletti, a Catholic Hebrew Scripture scholar, and Gianna Gobbi, a Montessori educator, developed CGS, whose 3 pillars – scripture, liturgy and practical work – are meant to help the child build a relationship with the Christ, Good Shepherd. Besides understanding the development of the child at 3 to 6 years old, and some practical methods of giving a presentation, theological explanations were also shared. Hence, participants had to grapple with big terms like ‘incarnation’, ‘parousia’,

‘estachological’, ‘covenant’, ‘salvation history’, ‘kerygma’, etc. Yet, these same theological concepts can be grasped by children through their work at the atrium since they are meta-physical. As Melissa HoYang, a mother of 2 children, puts it, “It was mind blowing for me to realise that the make up of children is that they so receptive to the metaphysical.” “Do not think that because the child cannot understand in the same way that we adults understand, that it is useless to allow him to participate in our religious practices,” wrote Dr Montessori in a letter to Catholic teachers on the eve of her death in 1952. From the testimonies given at the end of the course, it could be seen that many has found the course useful not just as a parent but it has also helped them grow in their own faith journey and change their perspective of things. As Melissa shared: “[CGS Training] has helped my faith grow and attending Mass has now become a richer experience for me. As a parent, CGS has got me very excited to share my faith with my children. I now make a conscious effort to engage them spiritually and look for every opportunity on a daily basis to share my faith with them. Since the course, I have also

replaced their ‘toy corner’ into a ‘prayer corner’.” “One thing that struck me the most from this CGS Training was that we could grow in God even by doing the simplest of tasks like dusting leaves or scooping beans,” exclaimed Mary-Ann. Indeed, religious education of our children can start at home even in the simplest of tasks and at a tender age of 3 years old. We, parents, just need to equip ourselves with the right tools, perspective, attitude towards our children and respond to the call of the Vatican II document, Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution On The Church) paragraph 11: “The family is, so to speak, the domestic church. In it parents should, by their word and example, be the first preachers of the faith to their children; they should encourage them in the vocation which is proper to each of them, fostering with special care vocation to a sacred state.” For comments on this article, email stephen@stmary.sg. To find more information about CGS in St Mary’s, please visit the website: http://www. stmary.sg/ministry/33/catechesisgood-shepherd.

What is a CGS Atrium? The atrium is the place of prayer and meditation, quiet and peace. It is not a classroom for instruction nor a place of academic study. It is “Holy Ground” where Christ is encountered by both the adult catechists and children alike. “What struck me most is that the atrium is really like a place of prayer for the children, not a classroom,” said Evelyn, a parishionar. “Even for adults who work with children in the atrium, we really become child-like ourselves and it’s so much easier for God to reach our inner beings. At least, this is what I experienced throughout the course.”

Simbang Gabi sa Singapore 2011

t was an amazing evening at our parish on Dec 16 as an estimated 3,000 Filipinos flocked to Church of St Mary of the Angels to celebrate Simbang Gabi. Organised by Fr Angel C. Luciano, CICM, and various Filipino parish organisations in Singapore, the event was a phenomenal success. A tradition practised by Catholics in the Philippines, Simbang Gabi, which means “Night Mass”, is a series of devotional Masses held over nine nights in preparation for Christmas. Indeed, amid the prayers, food, and camaraderie, it was nothing short of magnificent as Filipinos in our community gathered at a different church each night for the Simbang Gabi celebrations. Missed out on the event this year? Join the Luminaire team as they bring you some of the highlights of the wonderful Simbang Gabi evening at St Mary’s! Photos by Emerson Paras, Melvin Noronha & Paul Gloria.

The Three FMDM Musketeers’ SMOTA Journey

eet Bea, Jane and Tryphena – the three volunteer-interns from the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood (FMDM) who have been helping out at St Mary’s since Nov 15, 2011. Through discernment, spiritual guidance, prayers, and of course with their families’ support, the trio said “Yes!” in answer to the Lord’s call, giving up their corporate careers – as an IT Manager, a Shipping Executive, and a Psychologist, respectively. Tomorrow finds out more about the FMDM postulants.

Tomorrow: When did you first enter Postulancy? Jane: We all came in on Nov 1 last year. The FMDM Sisters prepared for us a touching liturgy and that was when we got our Tau crosses, initiating us into the Franciscan community. Tryphena: So, that’s actually 1/11/11. All Saints’ Day! Bea: A close relative of mine was actually joking that our theme song is: (sings) “Oh when the saints, go marching in… Oh when the saints go marching in….” Tomorrow: You’re also quite musical, I see. So, what can you say about the three of you aside from the fact that you are now volunteering at SMOTA and helping out the staff in different departments? Tryphena: Well! I can immediately say that we are like the representatives of ASEAN. I am actually a Singaporean but I’ve lived in Australia for the past 13 years and am a PR there. Bea: I am from the beautiful islands of the Philippines (please pardon the marketing!) However, I have lived here in Singapore for

six years and I am also a PR here. Jane: I am from Malaysia – a truly Asia country with a federation of 13 states. It’s full of different cultures with various races and religions. I am from Johor, the southern part of Malaysia where I was born, studied and lived. And the world number one badminton player, Lee Chong Wei, is from Malaysia! Tomorrow: Is there anything else that makes you three unique? Bea: We are all very different from each other with different gifts but I would like to say more of our similarities. It’s very uncanny that all three of us are the youngest child in our families. Well, I am an only child so technically, I am the youngest as there are no other children. Jane: And I am the youngest – the one and only daughter in my family. I have one elder brother. Tryphena: And I am the younger of 2 sisters. Another similarity of ours is that we are all professionals when we came in. Although we came from different backgrounds, we could say that we had good careers when we heeded the “call”. Tomorrow: Tell us more about this call. Tryphena: It is quite difficult to explain. It felt like there was something “missing” in my life. This missing piece could only be filled by God, with peace and joy in my heart. I actually had the call many years back. My call started when I was 17 but after my undergraduate degree, I felt that I needed to pursue my career in Psychology and at the same time further my education. So that is how I ended up staying in Australia. Bea: As for me, I first had my call to

missionary work in my early 20s up in the mountains where my uncle, a priest, was assigned. One had to cross three rivers just to get to his parish. I volunteered there doing all sorts of stuff from IT, music, etc. I had to put off my desire to be a missionary as I felt I had to respond first to my family’s needs before I pursue my own. I went through different careers and in the end, the Lord led me here in Singapore and that’s where I met the FMDMs. Jane: From young I wanted to become a missionary and never thought about becoming a religious sister. And my working career in the corporate world did not fulfill me much as there were still deep search within me. Only after I attended the 2008 World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia that I realised I had a call to become a religious.

From Left: Jane, Bea and Tryphena posing with the Christmas crib in their convent. The three FMDM postulants are currently working in St Mary of the Angels in various departments as interns. Currently, Bea is assisting Viji in IT, Tryphena is assisting Stephen in Pastoral Care, and Jane is assisting Jude in Communications.

It’s like finding the treasure after a long hunt. And that’s where my journey started with Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood. And here I am now! Tomorrow: That’s all so interesting! I’m sure SMOTA will benefit much from your stay here. Welcome to the SMOTA family and I wish that you enjoy your stay with us.

Loss & Found

Book Reviews

Starting 2012 on the Right Foot By P e t e r H o n g

Patrick Wong reflects on how the loss of a child can strengthen one’s faith and commitment to family.

365 WWJD? by Nick Harrison ($23.90) What Would Jesus Do? Ask the questions and live the answers, every day of the year. This one-of-a-kind collection of devotional readings will help you nourish and deepen your faith through the simple yet powerful daily practice of answering the question, “What would Jesus do?”

anuary is a time of fresh hopes and beginnings. But for my family, 12 years ago, this month brought deep despair and a sad ending: we lost our baby, Lucas, to a congenital condition, eight days after his birth. Any loved one’s death is painful. But ask most people who they fear losing the most, and the answer would likely be “My child(ren)”. A child’s death goes against the natural order: children expect to lose their parents, not the other way round. And no parent can be fully prepared to cope with it. Yet, cope is what my wife and I did. One key factor was our faith. Ironic, because at that time, we were “someday” (not even Sunday!) churchgoers. But when moral decisions had to be made upon discovery of Lucas’ condition, we had a calm resolve underpinned by our beliefs: No, we would not abort him. Yes, we would see the pregnancy through, as this child was a gift from God. The marriage promises we exchanged also kept us steadfast. “In sickness and in health” became starkly relevant – and comforting. We made a single-minded commitment to support each other in facing this test. We also drew strength from the prayers of our parents, siblings, relatives, and godfamilies. But it was Lucas himself who gave us the strongest will to carry on. A medical analysis revealed that, given his genetic complications, Lucas should have been “naturally aborted”. Yet, by some miracle, he made it out into the world and fought so

Lucas’ sister, Sara, draws a tribute for a memorial service for her late brother.

hard to stay alive in neonatal ICU, hooked up to life-support machines. And though his time on earth would be brief, Lucas gave us new life in God – via St Mary’s. Knowing we would lose him sooner than later, we desperately wanted to have him baptised. It was a Sunday morning, and just when no priest seemed available, Lucas’ godfather (a St Mary’s parishioner) managed to contact Father Clifford Augustine, who dashed to the hospital to perform the sacrament. Indeed, Father Clifford was to play another pivotal role. We sought his advice, faced with the terrible decision of taking Lucas off life support so as not to prolong his suffering. And Father Clifford offered amazing support: “I believe God gives special children to special parents who can cope. Whatever decision you make will be out of love – just as you’ve been doing all along.”

A jewel of wisdom for every day of the year, each entry is drawn from Scripture with practical reflections on how we can live the WWJD? life as well as inspiring words from notable Christian writers, such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Charles H. Spurgeon, Billy Graham, Martin Luther King Jr., C.S. Lewis, Eugene Peterson, and many others. Here, author Nick Harrison invites us to accept this same challenge. It is “a pledge that the Apostle John says is a surefire test of our Christian faith... One year from now, may our lives be richer for having taken the time to learn the lessons gained by answering ‘What would Jesus do?’” 365 WWJD? offers daily food for thought, warmly reminding us of the many ways we can model our everyday actions after the life of Jesus. Catholic Etiquette By Kay Lynn Isca ($25.90) Are there really such things as “Catholic” manners? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” A distinctive etiquette code specific to Catholicism does exist - a code that is not always well-known or completely observed. With the refreshingly unbiased view of a convert, author Kay Lynn Isca has created a modern manual of Catholic “rites and wrongs” that helps all of us decipher and explore that code.

So, a few days later, our little “light” (that’s what “Lucas” means), went to sleep in God, cuddled in our arms at last. But losing him reawakened our faith (we joined the St Mary’s flock) and recalibrated our priorities (family first!). We’ve also found strength, through a support group, to help other bereaved parents cope with their losses.

Catholic Etiquette, the first modern guide to appropriate behaviour in Catholic situations, covers many aspects of daily and seasonal Catholic life. No matter whether you are a lifelong Catholic, a convert, or a nonCatholic involved with Catholic friends or family, Catholic Etiquette provides a practical guide to help you mind your manners in any Catholic situation.

By the way, Lucas’ birthday is 14 January, just one day before his Mommy’s. As always, she’ll bake a cake for our double January joy, and together with his three siblings, we’ll sing a celebratory song to the boy who’s never gone from our hearts. Lucas’ siblings celebrating Lucas’ birthday.

All featured books are available at Wellsprings Catholic Books or at the bookcart at the Piazza.

Infant Baptism Welcome to the St Mary’s family! Please pray for these newly baptised! • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Audrey Kho Yieh Han Claire Alicia Cassandra Wirawan Elena Jesca Goh En Xuan Isabel Ang I Jiu Mary Mackenzie Longue Jaslyn Faith Soh Li Xin Ryu Jayden Lauw Jordynn Reine Pangilinan Lexie Sofiel Dumelod Alcala Mercado Leo Franco Saquido Meredith Tan Cher Han Mia Elizabeth Gleeson Nathan Chia Zu Yao

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Pua Patrice Amber Adizas Selma Regina Yap Steffi Verena Yap Siobhan Kayla Skye Krishnan Zapatero Yael Jacob Panado Bongalon Zoie Marie Tapiz Sara Hiap (Ye Yinghui) Lerit Louise Sebastiane Manabat Rhian Isabella Tay Rui Xue Luke Raphael Peh Katiana Teresa Nicoln Zion Chiu Wun Lok

Be Not Afraid Happy New Year, everyone! How do you feel welcoming this new year? I guess most of us are excited about it; we set new plans and build new hopes. Some of us may be facing some changes: moving to a new house or attending a new school and we find new neighbours and friends. Changes are not easy sometimes because we feel comfortable with our surrounding and people that we have already known. Don’t worry! We are able to face the new challenge with the strengths and guidance from our Lord. He is always loyal to us, always be with us in every situation, never leaves us alone, and He is also the one knowing everything we need. So let us put our total trust in Him and start thinking of what we want to do or improve for this year, let us start thinking of our resolutions! Face this new

a rl i n a M ny Len

LIVING THE WORD

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you; do not be alarmed, for I am your God. I give you strength, truly I help you, truly I hold you firm with my saving right hand.” — Isaiah 41:10

year with new spirit and hope, knowing that the Lord will always save and protect us.

ACTIVITY

I Resolve... Think about what you want to do or improve in this new year and write them down in the list below. Keep this list to remind you about your resolutions. At the end of this year, read this your list again and see how many wishes are fulfilled!

In 2012, I would like to... 1. 2.

PRAYER

De ar Lord, I thank you for this Ne w Ye ar. May all the things that I had e xperienced last ye ar te ach me to be a be t ter person this ye ar. Lord, le ad me always in e ver y thing I do and bring me closer to you e ver yday. Amen.

3. 4. 5.

12 and hinder my progress instead. And so, I was determined to have a quick brunch, put aside these silly emotions and head back to my room to complete my work.

The Sky and The Open Field By C h r is to p h e r C h o k

very close friend shared with me the other day that God’s presence can be seen and felt in the smallest things around us; that God speaks to us through the ordinary. In our SMS conversation, he elaborated that, very often, we expect the extraordinary to happen for us to hear God’s voice and feel His presence. Ironically, it is only when we begin to see God in the normal (and seemingly insignificant and mundane) things in our lives that His voice and presence become so much more powerful. I couldn’t agree more. Friends like these are really a Godsend. I feel so grateful that I have such friends whom I am able to share my faith with and learn more about God. Thank you, Dominic Nalpon. A few Sundays back, I had a small spiritual crisis. The problem was the inability to feel God’s presence through my thoughts, actions or prayers. I felt the desperate need to reconnect with God; I was determined to spend a longer time in church to pray and reflect, hoping to regain some form of

spiritual grounding. But that refuge didn’t come, that comfort was nonexistent. During Mass, I felt even more distant from God and the community. It was a frustrating and spiritual draining experience: my mind told me that God was omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent but my lost and heavy heart seemed to have felt otherwise. And so I prayed fervently for an answer, half-hoping and half expecting something extraordinary would occur so that I could point it out and say “Aha! There you are God! Where have you been this whole time?” The only problem was that such a thing didn’t happen, nothing extraordinary or magical occurred. Far from being any lighter, the load in my heart increased. Leaving church that day, I felt weary and dejected. But at the same time, I consciously told myself to get my act together – I had two research papers and a mountain of homework to complete. Such melancholic sentiments, far from helping me with my work would definitely slow me down

Finding my usual spot for brunch at a nearby coffee shop, I ate my meal in silence. Brunch tasted bland – the eggs were tasteless, the bacon charred and the coffee bitter. But then again, food always tasted terrible in times like these. My lost appetite reflected my lost hopes for finding God. Even thinking of my favourite meal back home – Bak Chor Mee with Teh – did not arouse my appetite. Failing to feel any better during my meal, I ate quickly and called for the bill. Looking up to call the waiter, I saw an interesting sight. Sitting at the table in front of me was a family of six – two young children with their parents and grandparents. This familial scene was normal for a Sunday – from what I’ve seen, a lot of families here tend to eat their brunch together on Sundays. What made this scene peculiar was the grandfather’s face. He looked sickly, was frail in his movements and seemed very tired. Yet, his face was one of immense radiance. I literally saw his face gleaming with a shine of unmistakable love. The interaction between him and his grandchildren made me smile. And as they were helping him out from his seat, I began to feel incredibly moved. I was witnessing something special: the personification of love. It was such a simple and seemingly normal act – a family brunch. But the amazing thing was the undeniable presence of God within that family. And that made all the difference. Growing excited, I immediately messaged Dominic about that amazing moment. His reply to me became the answer that I was searching for: [That scene is] a reminder that He is always there, even in the most normal things. It’s like being in an open field and

looking for the sky. And only when we stop and lie back, then we see that the sky has always been there. I could really relate to that analogy that Dominic described. Very much like running in an open field searching desperately for the sky, I found my myopic self trying to see God in the things that I wanted to see, trying to listen to God’s voice in the things that I wanted to hear. Yet not only does this method of searching for God sound increasingly ridiculous, it also caused immense spiritual fatigue and frustration. Truly then, it was only when I stopped running around in circles, laid back and began to trust in God more, that I realised that He had always been there. Like the majestic sky, God’s love and presence for us is always there – all I needed to do was to gather my thoughts, reflect and let God take over. When I was a small child, I remembered how I would often look at the sky with a genuine sense of awe and wonder. I was intrigued by the vastness of it all. I found it amazing that I could never capture the entire sky with a glance; the sky stretched on and on beyond the limits of my peripheral vision. Similarly, God is all of that, and more. His unconditional love for us stretches further than the skies; His grace is beyond the limits of our understanding. Instead of rationalising, finding meaning and searching for answers pertaining to faith and God, I am gradually learning to lie back, gaze at the sky and feel God’s love. So when was the last time you looked at the sky? If you ever get the chance to do so, try gazing at the sky again. And like a small child, I pray that you gain an overwhelming sense of awe and wonder, as you relish and take in that amazing sight. And from that beautiful scene, realise that God’s love for you is somewhat similar to that, only even more beautiful. He created the skies after all.

“As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” By P u ji a n to C e m e r l a n g

Imagine that you were happily engaged with someone and one day an Angel came in front of you telling that you were going to a mother by the power of the Holy Spirit. Imagine that you must bear a child not in the hospital, but in a simple animal shelter – far away from your home town. I cannot imagine how confused and worried Mary must have felt with all these events. It was not according to her plan, but she treasured all of these. I am amazed how Mother Mary embraced God’s Plans and let God take the lead. Can we be like Mary, trusting God’s plan regardless how hard or inconvenient the plan is? Can we step up and say yes despite of the challenges? I was at St Mary of the Angels one Sunday to help the friars photograph the artworks @ St. Damiano, and Angelo (the cat) appeared out of nowhere and became part of the picture. It feels like mini Nativity scene, doesn’t it?

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