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We’d like to invite you to be part of our All Souls’ Day Eucharistic celebration, to be held at the Church of St Mary of Angels on Wednesday, 2 Nov, at 8pm.

This day is set aside by the Church for the faithful to come together to praise and thank God for the gift of our loved ones who have gone before us. We gather to offer our prayers for them and to reconnect ourselves with them in a special and universal way. On this day the Franciscan Friars will also be organising a special liturgical service for the deceased in our Columbarium. Therefore we are inviting our families and friends to be part of our celebration.

All Soul’s Day Mass will be at 8pm; and right after that, there will be a Blessing of the Franciscan Columbarium and Niches at 9pm.

The Remembrance of the Desire of the Soul – This was the theme of this year Transitus of St. Francis. ‘Transitus’ is a Latin word meaning ‘crossing over’, and in the Franciscan Tradition it marks the death of Francis (also of Clare). The Transitus of Francis is celebrated on the eve of the Feast of St Francis (4 October). During the Transitus the last moment of Francis is recalled.

This year the Transitus celebration was organised by the Novitiate housed at St Anthony Friary. Br Mike Goh, the Novice Director designed the celebration with the three novices and several friars, seculars, and Franciscan sisters involving at the different stages.

The celebration, held at the Church of St Mary of the Angels, was setup with four standing posters denoting the four corners of the earth represented by Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. The compass points were significant not only that they represented Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures but the universality of relationship: all are brothers and sisters.

The Celebration began with the procession of the four elements represented by a candle, a vase of water, a pot of burned incense sticks, and a pot of plant. These were borne by a friar, a Secular Franciscan, an FMM Sister, and an FMDM Sister. Br Mike, who presided over the event, followed behind the four, bearing the Friars’ Rule of 1223.

During the Celebration the novices chanted in choir Psalm 142. Buns were blessed and a larger bread, specially baked by Br Mike, was broken.

At the segment marking the point of the Francis’ death, Br Mike sprinkled ashes on to the habit that was superimposed on to the San Damiano Crucifix. He then lighted the paschal candle with some difficulty, motivating Br Mike to remark to the congregation that “Francis just refuses to die!”, prompting laughter all around.

The celebration lasted about 40 minutes ended with the distribution of the buns and light refreshment on the Piazza. There were almost 300 in attendance.

It is tradition with the Franciscans here that on the Sunday closest to the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, the friars would like to share God’s blessings with all creation, especially with the animals in our care. We invite you to bring your pets for a special blessing, and to enjoy the brotherhood of all God’s creatures!

Sunday, 2 Oct 2011, 3.30pm at the Piazza of the Church of St Mary of the Angels.

Do join us in commemorating the Transitus (death) of Francis of Assisi on Monday, 3 Oct, 8pm, at the Church of St Mary of the Angels.

The OFM Custody of St Anthony is organising the Franciscan Seminar 2011: Dialogue, Human Dignity and the Process of Peace. All events will be held in the evenings of 24-27 Oct, at the Church of St Mary of the Angels (5 Bukit Batok East Ave 2, Singapore 659918). It is open to all men and women of goodwill, and persons of all faiths and traditions.

1. Human Trafficking and Singapore
Mon 24 Oct, 2011 (8-10pm, St Clare Centre)
Lead presenter: Vincent Wijeyasinghe from TWC2
A panel of local NGOs discusses the realities of modern-day slavery in our midst

2. The United Nations and Universal Periodic Review (Part 1)
Tue 25 Oct, 2011 (8-10pm, St Clare Centre)
Presented by: Franciscans International, the Franciscan NGO at the UN
A workshop specially for NGOs, church workers, religious, lay collaborators, and all who wish for dialogue and human dignity

3. The United Nations and Universal Periodic Review (Part 2)
Wed 26 Oct, 2011 (8-10pm, St Clare Centre)
Presented by: Franciscans International, the Franciscan NGO at the UN
A workshop specially for NGOs, church workers, religious, lay collaborators, and all who wish for dialogue and human dignity

4. 25th Anniversary of the Spirit of Assisi: Inter-Faith Prayers for Peace
Thu 27 Oct, 2011 (8-10pm, Piazza)
Led by: OFM-JPIC, Inter-Religious Organisation of Singapore, and friends
An evening of prayer, reflection and song to celebrate our hopes and prayers for Peace in our lives, homes and world

To help us with our planning, kindly register by sending an email to parish@stmary.sg or contact the front desk of the Church of St Mary of the Angels (Tel +65 6567 3866).

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