A Choice Made

With two more months left, things are moving fast as the final year seminarians prepare themselves for their graduation and eventual insertion into the priestly ministry. They have their final Baccalaureate (Theology) exams to undergo and following that, the essential preparations for their diaconate and the priesthood.

NS and Seminary

I just came from finishing a movie with the rest of the Seminary community. We saw it during our dinner as it was the eve of Hari Raya holiday. This is our usual movie night during such occasions. The movie? Ah Boys To Men (pt 1).

One of the aspirants who attended our last weekend's vocation retreat had commented that life in the seminary to him is somewhat more difficult than life in the army today! If he had come in and join us in the seminary during my time as a seminarian his comments may not have been too far off the mark. However, today, much have changed and the environment has improved tremendously.

Because I Am Human...

... because I am human, I am weak,
because I am weak, therefore I pray.

The above verses came from our retreat master, Fr Michael Casey, OCSO, a Trappist monk from Tarrawara Abbey, Melbourne (Australia). At my last entry, I mentioned we were on our Clergy Annual Retreat from 15 - 19 July. The theme was on prayer that had various aspects of 'faces' to discern and reflect.

Overall, the retreat was a fruitful one because it helped me regained my composure on my own prayer life and the various possibilities of growth and deepening of my relationship with God.

Clergy Retreat

We are having our Clergy Annual Retreat this week at the SFX Major Seminary. It will be from the 15 July till 19 July.

The retreat master is Fr Michael Casey, OCSO, Trappist monk from the Tarrawara Abbey, Melbourne, Australia. The theme he his presenting is on Prayer, through some of the sub-topics of simplicity, faith, revelation, spiritual warfare, forgiveness, petition, dedication and Christ the Priest, just to name a few.

Do pray for all of us priests and clergy that we would have a fruitful and spirit-filled week and that we may come out this refreshed and renewed in our ministry.

It's 10 Now!

It was 10 years ago when I said yes to my life as a priest after the heart of Christ.

Looking back at all that have transpired so far and the journey that led me to where I am now, I can only remain utterly grateful for this vocation that continues to allow me to unfold my potential as God's instrument to give his presence in the world today.

Certainly, there have been many hits and misses and I continue to learn from my mistakes and mishaps, where I continue onwards to carry out my mission as a minister of God, especially as pastor and mediator. Life as priest in the present times has been very challenging and theer will be no end to what I can already feel, which many times can be between a rock and a hard place. It can always come down to a situation that one can just give up and walk away from it all.

New Challenges...

What a month this had been and more seems to be coming up that will somehow speak of the changing landscape of all that is related to the archdiocese and in all aspect of our own lives - spiritual, material, physical

The seminarians just came back early this morning after visiting the KL archdiocese in attending to a sacerdotal (priestly) ordination of two of their alumni from our Singapore seminary. Deacons Gregory Chan and Peter Anthoney were ordained yesterday in the cathedral by Archbishop Murphy Pakiam, to the order of priests.

Today, the Singapore archdiocese will rejoice as we celebrate the ordination to the order of deacons for Joviat Ho, Benedict Chng, Alphonsus Raj and Edward Seah. The entire Seminary community will be heading to the Church of St Joseph - Bt Timah for the Mass ceremony this evening.

Not too far off from here is the next ordination, this time of the episcopal nature when Msgr William Goh is formally installed as Archbishop-Coadjutor, at the Singapore Expo in February 22.

Lent Again!

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

We are now into the season of Lent and it has been quite a journey so far, because I suddenly realised that most of my workflow and items that continuously would fight for my attention would come from three major composition of people: couples preparing for marriage, seminarians and the clergy.

I just finished one Engaged Encounter (EE) weekend (last weekend) and I was the presenting priest with two other presenting couples that oversaw to the presenting of topics concerning marriage and the married life in the Catholic perspective. There were 31 couples and we had them run through their paces on issues like communication, mutual responsibility, family life matters, marriage and all other related items that promote the married life within the embrace of God's life and love.

I am also made aware that I am, as the Spiritual Director of the House for the Seminary, all the spiritual needs and activities of the seminarians are under my care and nurturing. These will include retreats, recollections, spiritual direction which are spead out over the months of the year, where I am to have a reasonable take and insight to the pulse and rhythm of life of the seminarians under our care.

Then there is the Priestly Life Commission, which I am the current chairman. This means together with 9 other members, we look after the welfare and spiritual needs of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Singapore. This is no small task nor simple because of the many sensitivities and complicated issues that abound in relationship between priests and the laity, priests and priests and priests with the Bishop.

For all three, I am playing a role that is to encourage, nurture and enlightened, besides supporting and looking out for the general well-being of the persons. Heavy responsibilities, indeed. It is an interesting movement into Lent this year...

Related articles

• To Lent or not to Lent? (laurenlizallen.wordpress.com)
• Father James Farfaglia: Marriage Is Forever! (deaconforlife.blogspot.com)