Three Men Welcomed Into Postulancy

Three Men Welcomed Into Postulancy

by | Feb 8, 2020 | Custody, Vocation

On 8th February 2020, we were blessed to have Julian Chua (from Church of St Mary of the Angels, Singapore), Sylvester Singh (from Church of Christ The King, Singapore), and Timothy Fong (from Sacred Heart Cathedral KK, Sabah) begin their Franciscan life in our Custody.

The new postulants were welcomed by the brothers at St. Anthony Friary Chapel in a simple but meaningful liturgy with brother Philip Miscamble, the Minister Provincial.

Under the direction of Friar John Soh, the three postulants will begin their journey as Franciscans. Apart from activities such as gardening, household chores, studies, and recreation in a typical day, they are also undergoing initiation year in the historical College General in Penang, studying subjects including Salvation History, Growth & Spirituality, Vatican II, Introduction to Liturgy, and Music. They are also involved with the apostolate for the blind.

From Left : Sylvester Singh, Julian Chua, Timothy Fong, Friar John Soh (Postulant Master)

When asked about their wishes in this journey, all three expressed a desire to follow Christ in the footsteps of St Francis of Assisi. “In my postulancy, I hope to flourish in living the gospel of Jesus Christ,” shared Br Timothy, “to be assisted in pondering the innermost roots of my vocation and to experience the Franciscan life step by step.” Br Julian, likewise, hopes “to be immersed in Franciscan community life, prayer, and ministry”, and adds that he seeks “to be guided in the preparation for religious life.” Br Sylvester hopes to deepen his love of Christ through a fraternal life of joy, prayer, and service with his fellow brothers. “I pray for the grace of openness to the Holy Spirit, our Teacher and Guide.”

Let us pray for our three new postulants in this stage of their discernment.

A New Way of Looking at the World

A New Way of Looking at the World

by | Jan 10, 2020 | Article, Spirituality

St Francis of Assisi is well known for his love of poverty, but he was not born into poverty. In fact, he was born into wealth and privilege, and once dreamt of glory on the battlefield. He thought these were the things that would bring him happiness.  It was not until he encountered the leper that he realized that true happiness is found in God alone.  

St Francis exclaimed, “And the Lord himself led me among them [the lepers] and I showed mercy towards them. And withdrawing from them, that which once seemed bitter to me was changed into sweetness of soul and body.” 

This was the key event for Francis, the one that led him to his conversion. Wanting to imitate Christ, he embraced radical poverty. For Francis, that meant not just renouncing material goods but also putting on the attitude of Christ, to strive to be perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect, to serve
with humility and charity rather than be served, to be poor among the poor. 

As the lepers helped him to overcome his revulsion, he began to show compassion to all, treating everyone as if they were Christ himself. Francis and the early brothers devoted themselves to the care of lepers, who were rejected by society, and to bringing God’s love, peace, joy and hope to those were desolate. The brothers began to look beyond themselves and began to seek to comfort those who were suffering physically and emotionally. 

The more Francis immersed himself in serving others, putting his faith in action, the more he was drawn to empty himself, even to going the extra mile for the sake of others. He found his ability to love magnified every day, and this led him to strive to perpetually seek God’s will in his life.   

Francis’ quest led him to the knowledge that our God is the “Most High Glorious God”, a God who is love, mercy and compassion. In steadfastly following the will of God in his life, Francis began to experience life to the full. He felt a strong sense of God in his daily life, and the awareness of
God’s presence within him gave him a new way of looking at the world.

He began to see God’s presence in others. “What was bitter was changed into sweetness” for him for he was able to discover the dignity and beauty of each person, whether they are rich or poor, healthy or sick, strong or weak, young or old. They were all God’s beloved children. He found that all
of creation manifested the beauty of God.  

It was God’s gift to him. As Francis rightly put it “the Lord himself led me among them”. Francis knew that God’s gifts were to be shared with others. As he experienced life to the full, he wanted others to also have meaningful lives.  For he knew that it is in mutual sharing, in washing each other’s feet that God’s reign is manifested among us.

 
2020 Appointments

2020 Appointments

by | Jan 1, 2020 | Custody

Appointments notice 2020-2022

The start of the year saw fresh appointments within the Custody of St Anthony.

Having completed the 2019 Custody Chapter in October last year, and after much consultation, prayer and deliberation, our Custos, Friar Derrick Yap, announced new appointments to the friars on 25 Oct 2019.

The new appointments took effect on the 1 Jan 2020, and run until the end of 2022. Assignments of offices, along with movements of members within the communities take place once in three years, following a Custody Chapter or meeting. 

Below is the full list of appointments (and movements) of the brothers.

St Anthony’s Friary (Singapore)

  • Peter Michael (Guardian) 
  • John Paul Tan
  • Michael D’Cruz 
  • Julian Mariaratnam
  • Martin Low
  • Kenny Anthonysamy 
  • Gerard Victor 
  • John Wong
  • Justin Lim 
  • Jason Richard 
  • Esmond Chua 
  • Aiden Peter Jr 

 

Greccio Friary  (Singapore)

  • Vernon Chua (Guardian) 
  • Joseph Nasanathan 
  • Rowland Yeo
  • Derrick Yap 
  • Robin Toha 
  • Crispus Mosinoh 
  • Sixtus Pitah Amit 
  • Gerald Tan 
  • Gerald Saimel  (Friars-In-Initial Formation)
  • Cosmas Francis (Friars-In-Initial Formation)  
  • Nelson Evarinus  (Friars-In-Initial Formation)
  • Sylvester Singh (Postulant)
  • Julian Chua (Postulant)

 

St. Francis of Assisi Friary (Sarawak, Malaysia)

  • William Lee (Guardian)
  • Don Don Ramerez 
  • David Au
  • Cruzender Alex 

St James of the Marches (Johor, Malaysia)

  • Joseph Lee (Vicar) 
  • Moses Yap 
  • Claurence Motoyou 

 

Penang Friary (Malaysia)

  • Arul Mariadass (Guardian)
  • John Soh
  • Oliver Tham
  • Timothy Fong (Postulant)

 

Overseas

  • Michael Goh (Auckland, NZ, to end 2020) 
  • Francisco Basyanake (Sydney, AUS, to 2022)
  • Clifford Augustine (Franciscan Chapel Centre, Roppongi, Tokyo)
  • Marvin Voo (Manila,PH,to end of novitiate)

 

Parishes

CHURCH OF ST MARY OF THE ANGELS 

Parish Priest: Michael D’Cruz 

Assistants: Gerard Victor & Esmond Chua

 

ST ANN CHURCH (Kota Padawan) Kuching, Malaysia 

Rector: William Lee

Assistants: Don Don Ramarez, David Au & Cruzender Alex

 

RISEN CHRIST CHURCH Penang, Malaysia

Parish Priest: Arul Mariadass 

Assistant: Oliver Tham

 

ST ELIZABETH CHURCH (Kota Tinggi) Johor, Malaysia

Administrator:  Joseph Lee

JOSEPH CHURCH (Plentong) Johor, Malaysia 

Assistant Parish Priest: Moses Yap

 

CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (Johor Bahru) Johor, Malaysia 

Assistant Parish Priest: Claurence Motoyou

 

Columbarium

  • Julian Mariaratnam (Director) 
  • Peter Michael            
  • Kenny Anthonysamy

 

San Damiano Spirituality Centre

  • Martin Low (Director)
  • Justin Lim
  • Gerald Tan

 

Lady Jacoba Thrift Shop

  • Jason Richard    

                               

Holy Land Commissariat

  •    Justin Lim

 

Secular Franciscan Order (OFS)

  • Derrick Yap (Singapore)
  • Cruzender Alex (Malaysia)           

 

 Custody Bursar

  • Martin Low

 

Vocation Team

  • Esmond Chua (Director)
  • Robin Toha (Singapore)
  • David Au (Malaysia)

 

JPIC

  • Esmond Chua

 

Mission and Evangelisation

  • Justin Lim

 

Communication & Development Office

  • Aiden Peter Jr (Director)
  • Crispus Mosinoh
  • Sixtus Pitah Amit

                

Secretary of Formation

  • Joseph Nathan

 

On-going Formation

  • Joseph Nathan

 

Postulant Director

  • John Soh (Malaysia)    
  • Vernon Chua (Singapore)      

                      

Novice Director

  • Vernon Chua              

                    

Post-Novice Director

  • Derrick Yap                       

 

New Leadership for our Custody

by | Nov 29, 2019 | Custody

On 10 October, the newly-elected leadership team of the Custody of St Anthony Malaysia- Singapore-Brunei began its three-year term. Friar Derrick Yap is Custos, and his Council members are Friar Michael D’Cruz, Friar Julian Mariaratnam, Friar Martin Low and Friar David Au. 

A few words from the Custos, Brother Derrick: 

“Lord, give me a scripture verse to live by as I take on this new role” was the question in my heart after I said “yes” to my Provincial Minister Friar Philip Miscamble on 10 October, when he asked if I would accept the role of Custos. 

That very evening, during Vespers, the scripture reading read thus “you should all agree among yourselves and be sympathetic; love the brothers, have compassion and be self-effacing. Never pay back one wrong with another, or an angry word with another one; instead, pay back with a blessing. That is what you are called to do, so that you inherit a blessing yourself.” (1 Pet 3:8-9) 

I literally exclaimed that my guiding passage had been revealed to me! To love the brothers, that’s my call and my mission as I assume the role of Custos. For those unfamiliar with the term, “Custos” is “Custodian” in English, and for me, it is the service of leadership of the Franciscan Friars in Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei. 

St Francis of Assisi, calling himself a “friar minor”, wanted his brothers to be minor (or lesser), and hence even the titles given to leaders in our Order reflect this sense of minority. Instead of “Superior” or “Prior”, 

St Francis preferred ‘Minister”, “Guardian” and “Custodian”. Franciscan leaders are meant to serve, guard and look after. 

Hence this scripture passage hit the nail on the head for me: to love the brothers in the way the Lord wants me to. Our Custody Statutes state that the task of the Custos is “to visit the brothers regularly, exhort them spiritually, support them and humbly and charitably correct them”. I intend to do just that, if the friars allow me to, and to humbly journey with them towards greater authenticity and audacity as we live our Franciscan life and charism, in the service of God and God’s beloved people. May the Holy Spirit who inspired St Francis continue to inspire us, the sons of St Francis, today. 

Passing as a Pilgrim with St Francis

Passing as a Pilgrim with St Francis

by | Nov 10, 2019 | Article, Spirituality

Caught up in life and its vicissitudes, we can begin to believe the great myth of human ego that this earthly life lasts forever and then, when Sister Death draws near to us, we are lost in panic, lost in pain. We are simply lost, and we hold out against her, not knowing that her gentle purpose is to bring us home. We have forgotten how to die. 

St Francis remembered how to die. He knew that when we face the embrace of our sister when it comes, we must do so with love. We must yield to her, and allow ourselves to be ushered by her into the Divine Presence, and for this to happen in such a gentle way, we must practice dying. 

We must die, every day, just a little. We must die to our self, die to our false self, die to every part of us that is the accretion of property and wealth for their own sake. We must die to the use of others, die to holding on to power so as to dominate, and even and especially die to the belief that we are at the centre of all things. 

Francis himself died to each of these. 

He died to the rich home and sumptuous clothes of his youth and to the joy a young man takes in his own vigour and power. He died to the rich young man, who was the toast of Assisi and the centre of attention, known as “Master of the Revels”. He died to his family’s longing to see him raise their profile and their fortune. He died to the noble knight whose armour was forged from the ambition of his father and the myths that filled the head of a young boy who believed war was noble. 

He died to the pride that saw only the sores of the lepers and not their souls. He died to the embarrassment of the poor man who begs for his living from door to door. He died to the rejection of some and the adulation of many. He died to the opinion of bishops and princes, popes and kings. 

He died to the fear that the brotherhood would not listen … and would not follow. He died to the desire to be a martyr. He died to the fear of suffering and pain. He died to his own flesh, to the world, to the devil. He died to his own will. He died upon the Cross with Christ. 

And in so doing, he remembered how to die, teaching us how to die so that one might truly live.