Finally! All the friars in Malaysia and Singapore could meet face-to-face as an entire entity.
We had a chain of celebrations starting with the Priestly Ordination of Friar Robin Toha in Singapore on 21 June, followed by the Ordination of Friars Cosmas Francis, Crispus Mosinoh, Gerald Terence and Sixtus Pitah in Kota Kinabalu (KK) on 2 July, and the Solemn Profession of Friar Nelson Evarinus on 9 July, also in KK.
We also gathered for an Assembly to review where we are now, individually and communally, and where the Lord is inviting and challenging us to venture into. We shared stories, listened with purpose and named what affected us. I could feel our brothers’ audacity in being vulnerable and honest with one another. And because of this, we can listen to the Lord together, with a space in our hearts for God, brother and neighbour.
This sharing and listening will be the springboard for more concrete decision-making at the Custody Chapter to be held on our Bukit Batok property from 17 to 21 October.
The current “battle-cry” of the Franciscan Friars worldwide is Contemplative Fraternity-in-Mission, and my personal prayer and dream as Custos is that each friar will continue to be intentional and intensify his own interior spiritual journey. Knowing that we cannot give what we do not have, it is only by committing ourselves to our “soul’s journey into God” (quoting St Bonaventure), that each friar can be more and more in touch with the Spirit’s prompting for himself and for others.
As we celebrate St Francis’ Feast Day on 4 October, we allow his lived wisdom on fraternity to impact our lives. When others hurt us, we need to be ready to offer mercy to them, to not focus on the hurt to ourselves but rather to be “disturbed by the sin that he is inflicting on himself”. If someone causes us some hurt due to some toxic pattern of behaviour, this same toxicity is eating him or her up all the more intensely, and hence deserves our empathy and compassion.
St Francis teaches all of us to move the spotlight away from ourselves and put it on someone God wants us to focus on. If we keep dwelling on the faults of others and the hurts they have caused us, the spotlight is certainly on us. This sort of victim mentality does not help build bridges; it burns these bridges instead. And Pope Francis, in his encyclical ‘Fratelli Tutti’ which is on Social Friendship, exhorts us all to build bridges and not walls.
I am working on this interior journey myself and more importantly, allowing God to work in and through me. I know many of my brothers are of the same mind, and for this, I am grateful and edified. Together, we continue the God- inspired mission of St Francis to go out to all people and all creation, and connect with those who do not feel loved, who do not feel they are good enough and who do not feel they belong. And we friars invite you to not only pray for us, but to also join us in this beautiful mission!
17th September – The Feast of the Stigmata of our Father Francis of Assisi.
In 1224, Saint Francis went up to Mount Alvernia to pray, seeking solace and peace. And he asked for two graces – to experience the sufferings of Jesus’ Passion and also to experience the burning love that brought him up on the cross. And on 17th September, 3 days after the Feast of the Holy Cross, Francis saw a vision of the Crucified One as a Seraph and after that, saw the 5 wounds of the Crucified One appearing on his own flesh.
His perennial question of “Who are you, O God, and who am I” was thus answered…
Written by Ethan Hsu Vocals by Friar Derrick ofm Arranged, mixed and mastered by Daniel Chai Keyboard by Ethan Hsu Video by Jacob Teo
You are invited to a Zoom Event hosted by Friar Rowland Yeo, OFM.
To celebrate International Day of The Deaf, Friar Rowland, priest for St Francis SignLight Deaf community has invited Deafs from Singapore and Malaysia to meet on zoom.
He will be telling the stories of Saint Francis and Saint Anthony for us to learn about their lives, and how they love God and serve God.
Friar Rowland will also be giving quiz, which he will be giving away Friar Doll and Rosary made by him.
KOTA PADAWAN — Friar Derrick Yap OFM, Custos of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, together with General Visitor, Friar Robert Frazzetta OFM, arrived at St Ann’s Parish for a fraternal visit from 26–30 June 2022.
The visit to Kuching was filled with plenty of activities, beginning with a courtesy call on Archbishop Simon Poh of the Kuching Archdiocese.
They then spent time with the staff of St Ann’s Parish that included a tour around the church. Both friars also met the Franciscan Aspirants of Sarawak, to share their vocation to the religious life.
Joined by Friar David Au, Friar Don Don Ramerez and Friar Aiden Peter, they continued their journey to Sabah to attend the Franciscan Custody Assembly.
On a fine Saturday morning in July, in the presence of more than 750 people comprising friars, family, friends and parishioners, Friar Nelson Evarinus made his Solemn Profession to observe the Rule of St Francis according to the Constitutions of the Order of Friars Minor. His family and other relatives had made the trek from different parts of Sabah for a front-row seat to witness this milestone in Nelson’s journey as a Franciscan friar.
Friar Nelson is Kadazan, an indigenous ethnic group in Sabah, and it was important for him and the friars that his cultural roots be honoured. Kadazan culture abounded throughout the liturgy. Dancers in traditional colourful clothing made their way up to the church as part of the dramatic entrance procession, and the rousing music, song and local dance inspired spontaneous participation amongst the congregants, especially the stirring renditions of the “Gloria” and “Alleluia”.
Provincial Minister Friar Phillip Miscamble received Nelson’s profession at the Mass at the Church of St Aloysius in Limbanak, Kota Kinabalu on 9 July. In his homily, Friar Phillip said, “Your brothers and sisters welcome the call that you have received, and we will be there to support you as you go forward. Keep radiating the joy of the Gospel with your beautiful smile. Continue to pass along the goodness of God’s people, and build the Kingdom every day of your life.”
Litany of Saints One with his OFM brothers Friar Phillip receiving Nelson’s profession. Prostrating in humble submission to GodSolemn Profession of Friar Nelson Evarinus, ofm at St Aloysius Limbanak, Penampang, Sabah
At the end of the Mass, Friar Phillip reminded everyone that Francis realised that “the hand of the Lord rested upon him” and as such, the first thing to do in life is to welcome life, and welcome the gifts that the Lord with goodness and graciousness freely bestows. Francis learned to embrace everything and everyone, and this, Friar Philip said, is possible for all of us.
When asked to describe the emotions that ran through his mind before and during the rite of his Solemn Profession, Nelson shared, “I felt a profound sense of peace. It felt right. I was happy to make the offering to God and to make the promise to Jesus Christ to follow the Gospel as well as I am able.”
