AIR ITAM, Penang: Parishioners of the Church of the Risen Christ (RCC) hosted a dual get-together on December 30, 2022 at the parish hall to thank outgoing parish priest, Friar Arul Mariadass OFM, and Postulant Director Friar John Soh, OFM. The event was also to welcome the incoming parish priest, Friar Esmond Chua OFM, and assistant priest, Friar Crispus Mosinoh, OFM.
Friar Crispus assisting Friar Arul at the altar.From Left : Friars Crispus, Arul & EsmondFrom Left: Friars John, Crispus, Esmond and Arul
The change comes with Friar Arul completing his two-term (six-year) tenure as parish priest at RCC. The evening began with a thanksgiving Mass presided over by Friar Arul, with Friars Esmond and Crispus concelebrating.
In the speeches by the PPC chairman, Senior Citizens group, and the Mandarin Apostolate coordinators, it was evident how Friar Arul captured the hearts and minds of parishioners across all ages. His down-to-earth simplicity and immense grasp of the scriptural teachings in dealing with the realities of Basic Ecclesiastical Communities left a lasting impact on the community.
During his stewardship, parishioners grasped a better understanding of the principles and tenets of the Franciscan way of life, which is to proclaim the Gospel of life through an intense life of prayer, penance, and poverty. One prominent aspect is the practice of community living, a life focused on togetherness in brotherhood and communion and existence for one another.
The speakers also thanked Friar John for his tireless contribution and unconditional service to the parish. In his departing speech, Friar Arul thanked the congregation for their loving support throughout his tenure and added that this gives him the impetus to move on and accomplish his new mission in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The event ended with a sumptuous dinner and parishioners mingling with the friars. Christ’s love was felt everywhere.
Friar Esmond last served as the assistant priest at the Church of St Mary of the Angels, Singapore.
As we prepare for Christmas, we give thanks for the blessings that God has given us and the challenges that in the end have made us more creative and faithful to God.
This Christmas, we would like to share with you “Carols of the Bells” – featuring the Franciscan Friars.
Wishing you and your family a Blessed Christmas filled with Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
We thank you for your continued prayers and support of our life and mission.
May the Lord bless and keep you in the new year. May His countenance shine upon you. May He give you peace and rest.
Friar John-Paul Tan is part of the Commission for the Safeguarding of Minors and Vulnerable Adults and have just attended the Commission’s meeting held in Rome from 21 to 23 November 2022.
Friar John-Paul Tan, second from right.
The Order of Friars Minor has taken the issue of abuse to heart. Since the 2021 General Chapter, “this was our fourth or fifth meeting as a Commission since we were appointed after the General Chapter. Most of these meetings have been held remotely because of the pandemic. So this is the first time we have all met in person”. So says Br Aidan McGrath, member of the Order’s Commission for the Safeguarding of Minors and Vulnerable Adults, after the Commission’s meeting held in Rome from 21 to 23 November 2022.
Br Aidan also shared the role of the Commission, which is to “help all the entities of the Order to become aware of the importance of safeguarding and to know how to deal with the problems that arise. It has two aspects: one is prevention, in the sense that we want to create awareness of risk and danger for the youngest and vulnerable adults so that we do not behave blindly; the other is that if there is a problem, we must know how to deal with it and what to do”.
Br Joe Cavoto, another member of the Commission, said that the three-day meeting was a time of sharing among the members. “We learnt from the Minister General, Br Massimo Fusarelli, the desire to build a culture of respect within the Order; respect among brothers and respect for the people we are privileged to serve”. And he concluded by saying that “safeguarding is not just words but must be our modus operandi for how we live our minority”.
To give a concrete response to the question of abuse, “UCLAF (Union of the Conferences of the Latin American and Caribbean Provinces of the Franciscan Order) has responded to the Order’s invitation by sending two friars from each Conference to the course organised by the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome,” said Br Daniel Fleitas Zeni, member of the Commission and Minister Provincial of the Province of St Francis Solano, Argentina. “When these friars return to their own Conference,” concluded Br Daniel, “formation and prevention will be expected from them and, in the case of reports of abuse, they will be able to intervene and act in close contact with the Commission of the Order”.
This meeting was attended by Br Albert Schmucki, Definitor General and Director of the Safeguarding Office, Br Aidan McGrath, Br Theophil Czarniak, Br Joe Cavoto, Br John-Paul Tan, Br Daniel Fleitas Zeni, Br Frederick Odhiambo, Br Alvin Artemio Paras and Br Byron Antonio Chamann, as Secretary.
The Custody sent a sizeable contingent to this year’s Malaysia-Singapore Young Priests Gathering. Our nine young priests joined 33 other young priests from the two countries for the gathering hosted by the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur from 10 to 13 October 2022.
The annual Young Priests Gathering is organised by the Episcopal Commission for Diocesan Priests and Seminaries headed by Bishop Richard Ng of Miri. It is a time of ongoing formation, and allows the young priests to catch up with each other and strengthen fraternal bonds as they share their experiences and challenges in priestly ministry.
The gathering is for young priests who have been ordained for less than five years. Our participants this year were Friars Aiden Peter Jr, Claurence Motoyou, Cosmas Francis, Crispus Mosinoh, David Au, Don Don Ramerez, Esmond Chua, Gerald Terence and Sixtus Pitah.
Nine OFM Franciscan Friars together with an OFM Capuchin friar.
It was a fruitful time for our young priests. Not only were they able to exchange ideas and share their challenges and personal struggles, they also had a day of recollection with Fr Michael Raymond OFM Cap and Msgr Mitchel Joseph.
Both speakers shared important and useful tips, touching on the psychosocial aspect of priestly ministry, compassion fatigue, stress management, the importance of accompaniment, and defence mechanism.
Msgr Mitchel invited them to deepen their understanding of the priesthood. He said,
“It’s vital for us, as priests, to continue to pay attention to the pulse of our own spiritual growth. We tend to be functional in ministry rather than looking into holiness seriously. There is no real ministry without holiness”.
The participants also had the opportunity to visit churches around Kuala Lumpur such as Church of Holy Family in Kajang and Church of Divine Mercy.
The next Young Priests Gathering will be held in Sandakan, Sabah from 1 to 5 May 2023.
Let us continue to pray for these young shepherds who have given their lives to care for the Lord’s sheep, and to minister to their needs. We praise and thank God for the gift of their vocation.
The Province of the Holy Spirit, of which the Custody of St Anthony (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei) is a part, elected its new leadership at its Provincial Chapter in September. The 29 Franciscan Friars, who gathered in Sydney for the Chapter held from 25 to 30 September, comprised 22 friars in Australia, two from New Zealand, four from our Custody – Friars Derrick Yap, John Paul Tan, Aiden Peter and Esmond Chua – and the delegate of the Order’s General Minister in Rome.
The newly elected leadership team has some familiar faces, chief of which is Friar Phillip Miscamble, who was elected Provincial Minister for another three-year term. Friar Phillip served in Singapore for 19 years and was our Custody’s first Custos. Also elected for the new term are Friar Stephen Bliss, who is Provincial Vicar, and four Provincial Definitors – Friars Matthew Beckmann ( who taught our Friars-in-Formation), Robert Stewart, Harry Chan (who studied in Singapore) and Philip Jeffares.
The Provincial Minister, Vicar and Definitors are responsible for leading the Order of Friars Minor in Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei. They carry out the priorities and recommendations set out at the Provincial Chapter, which include the promotion and pastoral care of vocations, and possibilities for new projects related to Franciscan spirituality and pastoral outreach.
In his first official message as Provincial Minister for this new term, Friar Phillip said, “We are blessed with so many gifted and talented men in our brotherhood. I see my role as to make sure that the Light of Christ in each of us shines for all the world to see. Please keep me in your prayers as I will you.”
The Province leadership team appoints the leadership team of the Custody of St Anthony (Malaysia- Singapore-Brunei). Friar Derrick Yap was re-appointed as Custos, and his Council members are Friars Michael D’Cruz, Vernon Chua, David Au and Esmond Chua. The newly- appointed Custody leadership team began its three-year term on 11 October.
Newly-appointed Custody Leadership team for 2023-2025
Please join us in praying for God’s blessings on our new Province and Custody leadership teams. May the Lord strengthen, sustain and shower them with His grace.
The Feature Article is a message from Friar Phillip Miscamble, who served in Singapore for 19 years and was our Custody’s first Custos. He was in Singapore in October for our Custody Chapter.
It was a privilege to be a part of the Chapter of the Custody of St Anthony of Padua (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei), and gather together with 36 of my brothers. We discussed the future direction of the Custody and the outreach of our ministry in the different dioceses in Singapore and Malaysia where the Franciscans have established foundations. It was wonderful to see how this part of the Franciscan Order has developed since I first became involved back in 1986!
At that time, the Australian Franciscan Friars had been in Singapore at St Anthony Friary for 16 years. We were a community of the Province of the Holy Spirit, with houses in Australia, New Zealand and the one house in Singapore. We provided pastoral care for the ever-growing parish of St Mary of the Angels, as the new Bukit Batok town was taking shape, and our formation programme for local vocations was in its fledging stage.
In the following years, we began to see an increase in the number of vocations and in 1992, the General Administration of the Order declared Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei as a Custody dependant on the Province of the Holy Spirit.
The reason for this development is clearly set out in the statutes of the newly established dependant custody. “The Custody is established by the Order of Friars Minor in recognition of the political and cultural differences between the Province and the Custody and to inculturate the friars more firmly in the Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei regions. Thereby an opportunity for greater self-determination and responsibility is given to those friars who are committed to the implantation and development of the Order in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.”
Becoming a Custody gave the friars in this region a clear mandate to work hard to establish the Order of Friars Minor beyond our Singapore foundation, established in 1958, to neighbouring Malaysia. Foundations followed in Kuching, Sarawak (1999); Masai, Johor (2008); Tanjung Bungah, Penang (2018) and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (2022). In Singapore, our presence increased from the Bukit Batok property to Greccio Friary at Chestnut Drive. These communities were possible because of the young men from Singapore and Malaysia who embraced the Franciscan way of life by joining the Order during the intervening years.
It has been such a joy to see the Order become firmly established in this part of the world. When I arrived in Singapore in 1986, I could never have imagined this providential growth would become a reality. The privilege to journey with this young entity of the Order over the past 36 years has been such a blessing.
Being appointed to our Singapore communities from 1986 to 2005 allowed me to be intimately involved in the life and development of the Custody. I was engaged in different roles with our formation programme, took on leadership as Guardian and Custos, and had the extraordinary opportunity to lead the team for the redevelopment of the Bukit Batok property, while also serving as parish priest of the Church of St Mary of the Angels. Now, as Provincial Minister of the Province of the Holy Spirit, my involvement continues. I count my blessings every day for having such incredible opportunities to serve the brotherhood and the people of God over all these years.
There is now a desire for the Custody to become an autonomous entity within the Order of Friars Minor. At the Provincial Chapter held in Sydney, Australia from 25 to 30 September, the assembled brothers gave their blessing for this new independent entity to be established. This desire was confirmed at the Custody Chapter held in Singapore from 17 to 21 October.
We will now petition our General Administration who will make the final decision about the change of status. While this is an internal governance matter, I ask you our benefactors and supporters to keep us in your prayers during this time of discernment and change.
Regardless of how we identify ourselves within the structure of the Order, I pray we Franciscans will always see our life of prayer and fraternity reflected in the ministry we carry out for the good of God’s holy people, and the Church and society where we serve.
Much of what has been achieved over the years could never have happened without your prayerful support. We will always show our appreciation and gratefulness by remembering you in our daily masses and prayers. I leave you with a blessing so dear to our Holy Father St Francis:
The Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you,
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace,
The Lord bless you.
Amen.
Friar Phillip Miscamble OFM Provincial Minister Province of the Holy Spirit
