New birth, new forays, new vision – all these bring hope to take the next step, to do the next right thing (to borrow a line from Frozen 2). In recent weeks, we have had several moments of joy in the life of our Custody.
On 28 May 2026, Friar Maximillian Alexson from Sarawak professed his first vows after completing his novitiate year in Manila. The following day, three Singaporean postulants – Daniel Xavier, Jason Ng and Samuel Tan – were invested as novices alongside postulants from the Philippines and Myanmar in the same friary. I went to Manila to rejoice with them and to visit the Novice Director. Step by step, these young brothers continue their journey of discernment and growth into the men God is calling them to be.
Our Custody also has two friars pursuing further studies in Italy. Friar Gerald Tan left for Italy on 22 May and is now studying Italian in Florence. In Rome, Friar David Au successfully defended his thesis on 10 June and obtained his Licentiate in Spirituality at the Pontificia Università Antonianum. He will remain there for another year to undertake a formators’ training course. I thank you, our readers and benefactors, for your generous and steady support of our Franciscan life and mission, which makes the ongoing formation of our brothers possible.
At last year’s Custody Chapter, we agreed to strengthen collaboration and to celebrate the Tuesday St Anthony Devotion as a Custody. St Anthony is our Custody’s co-patron, and this devotion is close to our hearts. We warmly invite you to join us for this devotion every Tuesday at 6:30pm at the Church of St Mary of the Angels.
At the end of May, our own brother, Friar John Wong, Definitor General for Asia, came for a post-Chapter visitation. He met with the Custody Council, visited our communities, and followed up on matters that had surfaced during the Chapter. Together we travelled to Kota Kinabalu in June, where we reconnected with our brother friars and many old friends – benefactors, collaborators, architects, priests, and religious. It was a meaningful time of connection and alignment with our Franciscan life and mission in Malaysia and Singapore, within the Asia-Oceania region, and across the wider Franciscan world.
In the last two weeks of June, I returned to Manila for the in-person residency of the Asian Franciscan Formators Training (AFFT) for which I am the co-ordinator. This third cycle includes Franciscan sisters for the first time, bringing together a group of seven friars and five sisters from across Asia. From the very first day, the Franciscan spirit fostered openness and unity. I was deeply encouraged by their enthusiasm and desire to grow as authentic religious and capable formators and accompanists.
From Manila, I went to Bogor, Indonesia for the Franciscan Conference of Asia-Oceania (FCAO) meeting, held from 28 June to 3 July 2026. We reviewed the resolutions from our previous meeting in Manila and continued planning shared initiatives such as AFFT. I was re-elected President of the South Asia, Australia, and Oceania Conference, and Friar Robin Toha was re-appointed Secretary.
Among the key resolutions at the meeting were: (a) strengthening collaboration in formation and studies through AFFT, ongoing formation exchanges, online Italian courses, and missionary preparation; (b) advancing JPIC initiatives including the Asia network and training for young friars; (c) encouraging creative new forms of presence to be relevant in our culture and context; and (d) strengthening safeguarding efforts through the Tutela Asia network.
Yet beyond the formal discussions, the most precious moments were the informal fraternal encounters, where we simply shared life as brothers in the spirit of St Francis.
We remain deeply grateful for your prayers and generous support. As we celebrate the Jubilee of St Francis this year, may we grow ever deeper in our love of God, neighbour, and all creation.
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