And Jesus said to the apostles, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31). He had sent them out two by two to minister to the people, and they were exhausted on their return. He saw their need for rest, not just for physical rest, but their need to rest in the Lord.
So do we all need to rest in the Lord. And rest in the Lord is what the friars of the Custody of St Anthony (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei) did when they gathered in a remote location in July. From their varied ministries in Singapore, Kuching, Johor and Penang, they travelled to Kampung Kokol in Sabah to rest in the Lord, in quiet, in prayer, in fraternity, and to seek his voice in what the Custody ought to do in the next three years.
They had gathered for the Custody Assembly which, together with the Custody Chapter in October, is held every three years. With them was Provincial Minister Friar Phillip Miscamble, since the Custody is part of the Province of the Holy Spirit in Australia.
The Custody Assembly and Chapter are among the most significant gatherings in the life of the Custody. It is when, as a Custody, the friars:
Look honestly at its life and ministry – How have they lived their lives as Friars Minor? What have they done as ministers of the Gospel?
Report, reflect and discuss issues which are important for the life of the Custody
Discuss the possibilities for faith-filled love and life, and propose suitable ways to foster growth and improvement.
The friars spent five days in July reflecting, planning, praying, and reconnecting at the Custody Assembly.
The theme of this Assembly and Chapter is “Restoring the Gospel in Us”. Recognising that the Gospel is the source and origin of the Order, it was felt that it was time to focus again on “restoring” the Gospel life.This Assembly, they were joined by Visitor General Friar Robert Frazzetta, who had been sent by Rome for the official visitation which takes place every three to six years. This official visitation is intended to ensure that the Custody remains faithful tothe Franciscan calling of fraternity and observance of Gospel living.
It serves to remind them of the foundational values of Franciscan life and encourage them from the heart to greater things – from the good to the better.
The friars spent the five days, 4 to 8 July, almost cloistered in a modest hotel about 40 to 50 minutes from the city.
They were full days, and much was achieved in terms of work and planning as the friars developed a broad sketch of how they envisioned continuing in their mission to bring the Good News to the places where it needs most to be heard.
They were days of community prayer with Lauds and the Eucharist in the morning, and Vespers in the evening. It was a joy to be able to pray together as a Custody and as a fraternity.
They were days of fraternity especially since it was the first gathering of the whole Custody since the Covid-19 lockdowns. There was great relief and happiness that they were able to meet each other again face to face, and to reconnect and renew bonds.
Friar Crispus Mosinoh, one of the newly-ordained priests, summed up his experience of the assembly thus, “The Custody Assembly was a joyful event, like how an extended family meet for a reunion dinner. Like any family, we have differences and challenges. As a young friar, it is very heartening to witness the spirit of renewal and fraternity that we share. If we can be brothers despite the challenges, then we can hope for the bigger community, the church. And if we have hope for the church, we can also have hope for society, for the world.”
The period of reflection and renewal that commenced with the Custody Assembly in July will culminate with the Custody Chapter at the end of October.
At the Chapter, the friars will evaluate further their Franciscan life, presence, ministry and formation, and discuss their priorities and areas of growth for the next three years. They will also spend the time discerning what more they can do from early next year, now that they have five newly-ordained priests.
The Custody Chapter is also a time of elections to office. The new leadership will also form the Board of the Custody’s registered charity, The Order of Friars Minor (Singapore) Limited.
Friar Robin’s ordination day at the Church of St Mary of the Angels, Singapore
In ceremonies punctuated by glorious music and triumphant applause, Friars Cosmas Francis, Crispus Mosinoh, Gerald Terence, Robin Toha and Sixtus Pitah were ordained as priests before a safely- distanced crowd of friars, family members, and friends.
The four Sabahan friars and one Singaporean friar entered the novitiate together in 2015, and after journeying for nine years, became friar-priests in June and July this year. Friar Robin was ordained by Archbishop William Goh at the Church of St Mary of the Angels, Singapore on 21 June. Friars Cosmas, Crispus, Gerald Terence and Sixtus travelled back to Sabah for their ordination by Archbishop John Wong at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu on 2 July.
In a tremendous display of Franciscan fraternity on both occasions, nearly 40 friars were part of the procession that entered the church to the resounding singing of the parish choral ensemble. Provincial Minister Phillip Miscamble concelebrated at both ordination Masses. That family members and friends were able to travel from Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Penang and Johor, and even Indonesia and Thailand for the celebrations made them that much more special.
Friars Cosmas, Crispus, Gerald and Sixtus’ ordination at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
The vocation journey of any Religious entails the support and sacrifice of those around him, particularly his loved ones, and Friar Phillip thanked the families of the newly ordained priests for the gift of their sons to the Franciscan Order and to the Church. Friar Phillip also made special mention of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, who have been instrumental in promoting Franciscan spirituality and vocations among the youth in Sabah. It is largely thanks to them that our Custody is now blessed with enough young friars to consider establishing a presence in Sabah
Speaking on behalf of the five of them, Friar Gerald admitted they had had many struggles on their journey towards priesthood, but added that the Lord continues to grant them hope and His divine assistance. He thanked all those who supported them through prayers or mentorship – and urged young people to consider the challenging but rewarding life of a Religious.
“Ordination,” Friar Gerald said, “first and foremost, is being a brother to all and the entire creation. Ordination means continuing the focus on living and preaching the Gospel of love and forgiveness.”
He added, “But another important part of our calling to the priesthood is our desire to bring peace and serenity through the sacrament of reconciliation, to offer the same freedom and peace to others – freedom from worry, anxiety, and whatever may be weighing on them – that has so freely been given to us.”
Truly the two weeks were yet more proof of God’s unfailing providence in the growth of His kingdom in this region.
Cardinal-elect (at centre) with Friar Robin Toha, OFM (right), Custos Friar Derrick Yap, OFM (left), Minister Provincial of the OFM of Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia, Friar Philip Miscamble, OFM (at extreme right) and the Toha family. Photo: Luminaire Ministry.
“My heart is full of joy, and I’m so proud of him,” said the mother of Franciscan Friar Robin Toha, Mrs Elsie Toha, with tears in her eyes. “I pray he will be a humble and good priest working in God’s Vineyard.” Forty-year-old Fra Robin was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal-elect William Goh on June 21, 2022 at the Church of Saint Mary of the Angels.
During the Mass, Cardinal-elect Goh reminded Fra Robin to always be grateful for God’s blessings. “Without gratitude, one becomes arrogant and proud. We must remain humble before the Lord, recognising that He supplies us with the necessary graces for our ministry. The life of a priest is not without suffering and requires dying to self. But I can assure you that you will find great peace and joy if you continue to give yourself generously to God and His people,” he said.
Fra Robin was born the only son to a Buddhist-Taoist family in Palembang, Indonesia. When his father passed away, his mother found comfort in the Catholic Church, and the family was soon baptised. But Fra Robin found it challenging to have faith in God when it seemed that He had ‘taken away’ his father, causing his family much hardship. When he came to Singapore for studies, it was his new Catholic friends and the Franciscan Friars who ministered to the Catholic Student Apostolate at his university that reignited his faith.
Having become a Singapore citizen, Fra Robin felt prompted to seriously consider joining the religious life after miraculously recovering from an illness where doctors only gave him a year to live. Looking back on his faith journey, Fra Robin understood that it was always God who loved him first. “The Lord can never be outdone in generosity. I pray I may always be like the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep.”
His advice to those discerning their vocation, “Do not make decisions based on other people’s influence or pressure from others. Be open and honest in your discernment – our vocation should lead us to be free to be who God means us to be.”
Archbishop John Wong of Kota Kinabalu Diocese also ordained four Franciscan friars from the Custody of St Anthony, Franciscan Friars of Singapore and Malaysia on July 2, 2022 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The four friar priests are Crispus Mosinoh, Gerald Saimel, Cosmas Francis and Sixtus Pitah, OFM. All of them are graduates from the St Francis Xavier Major Seminary in Singapore. Many Singaporeans from various parishes went to celebrate the occasion with the friar priests.
