Romans 12:2 reminds us, “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” This verse encapsulates the transformative journey I made through the Asian Franciscan Formators Training (AFFT). The nine-month course was a fascinating synthesis of psychology, theology, philosophy, and spirituality, and provided me with an illuminating path toward deeper understanding and greater self-awareness.
Throughout the course, it became evident that although we may seem resilient, internally we can be consumed by past wounds. This pain shapes how we move through life and may disconnect us from who we truly are. The AFFT shed light on this, offering a comprehensive approach to understanding human nature, divine calling, and the interconnectedness of all aspects of our being.
The programme’s multidisciplinary approach brought lecturers from Singapore, Italy, Indonesia, Ireland, Germany, India, Australia, and the Philippines. They helped us craft a programme centred on God’s designs and purposes, one that encourages us to live integrated lives.
Two modules from the 16 that I particularly enjoyed were “The Mystery of the Human Person” and “Personal Discernment and Affective Maturity.” They offered insights into the interior journey and the importance of accompanying ourselves lovingly and patiently. In learning how to support others, I realised the significance of learning to accompany ourselves in the same way. It is slow and deliberate work to allow the fragmented parts of us to heal and integrate, permitting Christ to bring the broken pieces back together.
St Paul said transformed minds produce transformed lives, and indeed the most profound takeaway from the AFFT for me is that our minds must be recalibrated for true transformation to occur. This recalibration means deepening our emotional and spiritual awareness, becoming more attuned to the needs of our own hearts and the hearts of those we accompany. When done right, this inner transformation can extend to entire family systems.
Friar Cosmas Francis, who also participated in the course, summed it up well when he said, “The challenge now is to take what we have learned, study it further, and expand our working knowledge – so that we can experience the freedom and courage of love – not just for ourselves but also for those that we accompany in this journey called life.”
As a formator, the course has reshaped how I view my role. Through the renewal of my mind and heart, I feel better able to discern the will of God and assist others in doing the same. I recognise now that true accompaniment comes from a place of deep self-awareness and a genuine desire to see the other person flourish.
The journey of formation is not just about teaching others; it is about walking with them in their struggles, helping them see the path forward, and encouraging them to trust in the transformative power of God’s love. The AFFT has equipped me to do this more effectively, and for that, I am truly grateful.
Friar Aiden Peter OFM
Friar Aiden was one of eight friarswho participated in the inauguralAsian Franciscan Formators Trainingheld from April to December 2024.
Nestled behind the Church of St Mary of the Angels in the Franciscan Bukit Batok Complex is a building most parishioners do not know exist – the San Damiano Friary and Franciscan Centre.
The building was originally designed to house the Poor Clares (the contemplative and cloistered Second Order of the Franciscan family) but when the plans of the Poor Clares changed, the building was put to various other uses. The first of these was as a formation house, when the San Damiano Novitiate moved from Chestnut Drive into the Franciscan Complex in 2005. Today, it is a spirituality centre and one of the Custody’s friaries.
“San Damiano” was the small chapel where the young Francis of Assisi prayed during his time of confusion, where Christ on the crucifix spoke to him, saying “Francis, go and restore the Church which you see is falling into ruins.”
The building’s dual use as a Friary and a Franciscan Centre sprang from the Custody Chapter in 2022 during which we recognised the need for the Custody to have a house of prayer and a centre for promoting Franciscan spirituality, charism, and intellectual tradition.
As part of this commitment, the Custody decided to have a community of friars within the spirituality centre. The friars occupy the upper floor of rooms while the lower floor with eight rooms is used to welcome those who desire a quiet time of retreat and rest.
The early members of the community envisioned San Damiano Friary and Franciscan Centre as a place of welcome and hospitality where one is given the opportunity and grace of encountering God with freedom and in the Spirit. They also chose to express the Franciscan spirit and charism of “Sine Proprio” (“With Nothing of One’s Own”) by relying on the generosity and kindness of those who use the space of San Damiano rather than charging a fixed rate. So far, both God and our guests have been more than gracious and generous.
The friary and centre used to be managed by two friars, but today the Guardian of the friary is also responsible for the centre. With this, the San Damiano Franciscan Centre became a fraternal mission and ministry of the community on behalf of the Custody.
The present community consists of five friars – Friars Michael Goh (Guardian and Centre Director), Martin Low, John Soh, William Lee and Gerald Tan.
San Damiano Franciscan Centre is a collective ministry of the community, but most of us are also engaged in other ministries. For example, Friar William works full time at Mount Alvernia Hospital in its pastoral care department, Friar John serves in the management of the Franciscan Columbarium, and Friar Martin is the Custody Bursar.
As a community, we have continued the direction taken by the previous community as well as improved the space. One such improvement is the roof top where a garden was created to complement the The labyrinth provides additional spaces to encounter God.
The centre is a place of welcome, a place where the gate is usually open and where practically anyone can walk in. Inspired by Francis’ openness and obedience to “the Spirit of the Lord and His holy manner of working” as well as to his unconditional availability, we feel we are called to do the same.
The hospitality of space and the opportunity that we offer for a spiritual encounter with self, with others, and with God are not exclusive to Catholics. In fact, half of those who come are other Christians, mainly from small non-denominational, evangelical and free churches. It is exciting to see our other Christian brothers and sisters rediscover the richness and beauty of the Christian tradition of spiritual guidance and journey.
San Damiano Friary and Franciscan Centre is not a traditional house of prayer, but it is one in spirit. As a community, we commit to regular prayer times together, and our guests and retreatants are invited to join us in prayer and in our fraternal living. We try to create an environment that gives rise to a deeper and intimate encounter with God, self, and others, including our living together as brothers in mutuality and in care and service. A House of Prayer for us is a space where God is not merely encountered and engaged, but a space where God lives and is. Hence, San Damiano Friary and Franciscan Centre is not just a place of silence but is also a place of presence.
This is us. This is San Damiano Friary and Franciscan Centre. You are most welcome to visit our sacred space and make it yours too! Laudato Si’! Be praised, my Lord!
It’s the new year and I hope you feel you are embarking on something meaningful this year with the Lord. Sometimes we wonder if we are in the same rut year in year out. But I can assure you that our lives can be full of meaningful surprises if we take time to recollect and discern.
For me, I will be six years as Custos in September, when the friars from Singapore and Malaysia will gather at Chapter (a religious meeting) and elect a friar to be the Custos for the next three-year term. It could be me, or it could be another friar, as the Lord guides!
Ongoing formation has been the area of special attention for me, and I pray that we friars will go from strength to strength in being more authentic and audacious in our life, fraternity and mission. Our brothers have been working hard in their areas of responsibility and dedicating time to fraternal life and prayer.
Already this year, we have had the Under-5s Retreat in Bandung, Indonesia led by Friar Esmond Chua. Under-5s are friars who have been professed or ordained five years and less. Since 2022, we have met online every two months for formation, and once a year, this group goes away for a short period of retreat. Indeed, this ongoing formation is very important and meant to accompany our young friars with intentional care and guidance. In January, we also had the New Forms Meeting (Asia) in Vietnam. It was an exciting time of exchange among friars from all over Asia about the creative ways we are bringing the Good News of salvation and hope to God’s people, especially those living in the peripheries.
In February, the Ministers (Provincials and Custos) from SAAOC (South Asia, Australia, Oceania Conference) will have our annual meeting in Singapore. We will be sharing updates on our various projects particularly the Asian Franciscan Formators Course (AFFT) which finished its first run in December, the Asian Fund-raising team to aid Asian projects, areas in mission territory that require more friars, and other matters close to our hearts as Asian Franciscans.
Finally, in the six issues of St Anthony’s Bread this year, we are putting the spotlight on our fraternities in Singapore and Malaysia. We will be asking our friars to introduce their fraternities and their members to you, our readers and supporters. Perhaps the writer will share their way of life, and the way they live out the Franciscan mission. We begin with this issue and the San Damiano Franciscan Centre located within the Franciscan Bukit Batok Complex. We hope that these feature articles will help you better understand our Franciscan Charism.
I wish all of you, our friends and benefactors, a very blessed Chinese New Year! The Year of the wooden Snake is said to be a time of transformation, renewal and spiritual growth, and it is indeed life-giving for us Catholics to think about the Chinese zodiac in this way. May this new year truly be a time of spiritual promises fulfilled for us all.
This Advent, as we approach the Year of Jubilee as pilgrims of Hope, we might consider making the period a fast of joy.
We would do this not merely as a penitential act for the expiation of our past sins, but to express our hopeful hunger for a better reality, for a deeper communion with God. Is it no wonder that we have an hour of fasting before receiving communion at Mass? This is the same spirit of self-emptying in preparation of receiving a great gift.
Many of us may not see God’s abundance of goodness at his table of plenty. Our images of God may be distorted and even unhealthy. We may think of God as a harsh policeman or a whimsical tyrant. We may expect God to grant us what we want how we want it simply because we have delivered a set number of prayers and sacrifices. Fasting may be the pathway towards an emptying of these ideas, a way to allow the Holy Spirit to infuse our minds with who God is and guide us to live as his love drives us.
Consider this too, Advent is a time of joyful expectant waiting, but in a world where we demand immediacy and efficiency, we are often frustrated and angry when we have to wait.
Can we learn to simply wait? To allow this waiting time to be grounding time, a time of deeper grounding into the reason for our waiting. To sanctify and beautify the process and the journey.
Can we honour the people we encounter along the way, rather than attribute blame and mistakes to them?
Perhaps this Advent, we can put more effort into catching ourselves before we fall into frustration, into pausing before reacting in anger or hurt, into learning to respond in a healthy and responsible fashion. This is a kind of fasting that is holistic and harmonious with our Christian living.
May we allow the spirit of St Francis of Assisi to inspire our Advent journey, fasting from food and frustration to bring more peace, more joy, and more creative freedom into our world.
