Also known informally as the ‘Student House’, Greccio Friary is a fomation community in Chestnut Drive, Singapore. Inspired by St Francis of Assisi, the brothers of Greccio seek to follow the call to live the Gospel in daily life, in fraternity, work, prayer, and study.
‘Greccio’
The friary of Greccio is named after the hill-side cave in the Rieti valley, halfway between Rome and Assisi, where St Francis invented the first Christmas crib. One Christmas Eve, Francis surprised the people of the village when he used real animals and villagers to form a living tableau, to impress on all the utter humility of God who came to be with his people in the poverty of a stable, in the form of the Infant Jesus. Greccio Friary is situated within the grounds of the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, Upper Bukit Timah.
What We Do
The community of Greccio is largely made up of post-novitiate friars in initial formation. Most travel daily to St Francis Xavier Major Seminary for studies, and engage in part-time ministry, mission and other supplementary programmes, while preparing for future full-time ministry within the regional Church. Within the fraternal setting, several Solemn-professed friars, who are involved in a variety of full-time ministries, provide accompaniment on this journey. The brothers in Greccio seek to uphold the values of justice and peace, communicating the loving face of a God who became one with us, and celebrating simplicity and beauty, through which God can be encountered.
A Prayer of St Francis
You are beauty, You are meekness,
You are the protector, You are our custodian and defender,
You are strength, You are refreshment, You are our hope
You are our faith, You are our charity,
You are all our sweetness, You are our eternal life:
Great and wonderful Lord, Almighty God, Merciful Saviour.
Amen.
- from The Praises of God.
Contact us
The Order of Friars Minor (S) Ltd – Greccio
4A Chestnut Drive, Singapore 679330
Guardian: Friar Michael D’Cruz OFM (dcruzme@gmail.com)
Members of Greccio:
Friar Michael D’Cruz OFM – Guardian, Post-Novitiate Formator, St Joseph’s Institution Chaplain/teaching staff, from Singapore
Friar Julian Mariaratnam OFM – Assistant Formator, Friar-in Charge of Columbarium Ministry, Sri Lankan Migrants’ Chaplain, from Sri Lanka
Friar Vernon Chua OFM – Custody Bursar (Treasurer), Ministers at Hope House for young men in crisis, from Singapore
Friar Desmond D’Silva OFM – Seminary studies, from Singapore
Friar Francisco Basnayake OFM – Seminary studies, from Sabah
Friar Xavier Chung OFM – Seminary studies, from Sabah
Friar Claurence Motoyou OFM – Seminary studies, from Sabah
Friar Jason Richard OFM – Exposure Programme in Holy Land until end 2013, from Singapore
Friar Esmond Chua OFM – Exposure Programme in New Zealand until end 2013, from Kuala Lumpur
Friar Don Don Ramerez OFM – Exposure Programme in Philippines until end 2013, from Sabah
Friar David Au OFM – Seminary studies, from Sarawak
Friar Cruzender Alex OFM – Seminary studies, from Sabah
Friar Aiden Peter OFM – Seminary studies, from Sabah