Dear friends,
I write this while on a pilgrimage of Franciscan Italy. We are a group of 39, but we have a common desire of our hearts – to grow in intimacy with the Lord and be courageous in seeking God’s will for us. Although I have visited many of these shrines and hermitages multiple times, they are always fresh for me because I keep growing and evolving. However, the fundamental call remains the same – to know that I belong to God and to love him as I am, with my whole self.
The weeks before the pilgrimage were filled with back to back meetings beginning with our Custody Chapter in early September, followed in October by the JPIC Asian Network for Peace and Integral Ecology in Manila and the Secular Franciscans (OFS) Asia-Oceania Congress in Kota Kinabalu.
Our Chapter allowed our brothers to connect in person and share life, ideas and possibilities. This helped in shaping the resolutions and recommendations for the Custody for the three-year term beginning January 2026.
Some significant matters discussed were:
- the building of a retreat space in Kota Kinabalu;
- taking on Fraternitas (Franciscan Young Adults) as a Custody corporate ministry;
- forming a Welfare Committee to look after the health and insurance needs of the friars;
- taking ownership of Franciscan Evangelisation (especially through St Anthony Devotion, Liturgy of the Word, Animal Blessing, Transitus celebrations);
- reviewing contracts between dioceses and the Order, especially concerning parish ministries; and
- strengthening our fraternal presence, as exhorted by our Minister General, with the option to suspend a presence, should the need arise.
An essential aspect of Franciscan life and mission is Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC). Pope Francis understood this wonderfully and his encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti addressed urgent issues concerning integral ecology and universal brotherhood. Among the topics discussed at the JPIC Asian Network meeting were promoting peace in areas like Myanmar, sharing resources regarding integral ecology, and using social media to advocate for the dignity of every human person.
The Secular Franciscans (OFS) congress was also a time of discernment, with formation and accompaniment emerging as priority among the resolutions, and JPIC and YouFra (Franciscan Youths) issues taking centre stage.
Being on this pilgrimage, seeing how many are thirsting for God and connecting to the spirituality of Francis, my dreams and hopes for the Custody are for the friars to ground themselves in the God of Life so that whatever we do, we do for God, with God, and in God. This will necessitate ongoing formation of both friars and communities so we can be life-giving channels of peace to all, especially those in dire need of connection and wholeness.
This is the shalom-peace that I wish for all of you, our readers, benefactors and friends, as you celebrate the graced season of Advent and the great feast of Christmas. May the Christ who did not disdain to be born in the messiness of the manger give us the enduring hope that he always abides with us, despite our broken and chaotic lives.
Finally, I will be handing over the role of Development and Communications Director to Friar Mike D’Cruz in the new year. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of you for your amazing support all these years and the team, especially Ms Karen Goh and Mr Hilary Hoe for their expert advice and super hard work! My gratitude to my brothers for so readily saying yes to contributing stories and a piece of themselves.
Have a blessed 2026 and may the Lord give you peace!
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