“Asia is growing” is an oft-repeated phrase among the Franciscan community. Indeed, looking at the growth in vocations in India, Vietnam, and Indonesia, we can see the growing Church in Asia. Of course, there are also entities, especially in the more affluent nations, that are struggling with vocations.
With these mixed emotions and situations, 12 ministers (Provincials, Custos, Presidents) from the South Asia, Australia, and Oceania Conference (SAAOC) gathered in Singapore from 17 to 21 February 2025 for our annual meeting to discern where and how God wants us Franciscans to participate in His Kingdom today.
With us was Friar John Wong, our previous Custos and current Definitor General for Asia-Oceania, who supplemented our discussion with the global perspective and what the General Council is deliberating. Friar Gregorio Lino, Provincial Minister of the Manila Province and President of the East Asia Conference, also joined us to share insights and information from the eight entities in that Conference. The fraternal intentionality of the 15 friars gathered was palpable in the meeting room and even when roaming around Chinatown for souvenirs.
I personally drove the Ministers to and from the airport as far as possible. For me, these times of personal conversations are gold. Many of them intimated how wonderful the week had been, with much discussed and worked on—but most of all, the deep fraternal bond and connection they felt among the Ministers. This affirms our Franciscan philosophy that persons and process are precious even as we work toward the product. This is the special charism of Franciscan spirituality, and seeing it embodied in friars from culturally diverse backgrounds is a testimony of “how good and pleasant it is, brothers living in unity” (Ps 133:1).
In terms of outcomes, we have decided to work on several collaborative projects such as the Asian Franciscan Formators Training (AFFT), a programme for Ongoing Formation directors, certification for English as a second language, Italian language courses to prepare for studies in Rome, and a programme for future missionaries. We have committed to promoting greater support for the Directors of Safeguarding within Asia, and we endorsed support for Conference-level collaboration for New Forms, which we talked about in the January 2025 issue of St. Anthony’s Bread.
Friar Phillip Miscamble, a previous Parish Priest of our parish of St. Mary of the Angels in Bukit Batok and current Provincial of Australia, shared with me that this meeting felt like a resurrection of our Conference. Things were already taking place, and the meeting felt energised and new. Even Friar John Wong said that we achieved more than he had expected!
For myself, the meeting was an experience of newness. I wonder if this feeling is a glimpse of the tremendous resurrection experience of Jesus for his disciples. In this Year of Hope, we are reminded to be open to the various “resurrection” experiences in our daily lives. God is always with us, but how are we connecting with Him in our hearts? Can we transcend the dreariness of some of our lives and see the God-spark within every person, every creature, every circumstance?
I wonder if this is the secret to the deep and unshakeable peace and joy that grounded St. Francis. May our journey this Lent into Easter ground us more in the risen Christ and bring us out of ourselves to the place where God dreams we will be.
From February 17th to 22nd, 2025, at the San Damiano Integration House in Baguio City (Philippines), the postulants of the Philippine Provinces of San Pedro Bautista and St. Anthony of Padua, and those of the Custody of St. Anthony (Singapore-Malaysia-Brunei) and the St. Francis of Assisi Foundation (Myanmar), were involved in a joint Psycho-Spiritual Integration Program for postulants.
The program, promoted by Br. Chris Tibong, OFM (S. Pedro Bautista), aims to strengthen the bond between the postulants of the Entities involved, promote personal bonds between the participants and focus on the understanding of the human person through the Human, Christian and Franciscan dimensions.
In the human dimension, participants had the opportunity to revisit their inner childhood, focusing on their wounds and how they cope with past experiences. The goal was to support their journey towards inner healing and liberation.
A deep sense of prayer and devotion rooted in Franciscan spirituality was observed throughout the program. As our Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi said, “do not extinguish the spirit of prayer” was an integral part of the program.
The Franciscan dimension focused on the themes of fraternity and minority. The program reminded participants that the foundation of our vocation to fraternal life lies in opening ourselves to others, accepting ourselves, and engaging in dialogue with both ourselves and others.
It was this spirit of brotherhood that inspired the creation of a joint program, allowing participants to grow in the life of fraternity. The meeting was made possible through the collaboration between the Philippine Provinces, the St. Francis of Assisi Foundation in Myanmar, and the Custody of St. Anthony of Padua in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.
This program is a constant invitation to integrate the lessons into daily life, as participants embrace the Franciscan way of living.
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!
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.
It’s that special time again when we intentionally look over the year that has passed and see where our journeys, especially our spiritual journeys, have taken us. We ask ourselves, “Where has God been in my life, and where is he leading me to?”.
During Advent – a season of waiting with a purpose – we wait for the second coming, the ultimate return of all things back to God; and closer to the week of Christmas, we turn our focus to the first coming of Christ at Bethlehem. Christ reminds us that we are not alone on our journeys; just think of his incarnation at Christmas, and the repeated coming again in the flesh at every Eucharist.
I look back on the year and give thanks to God for the blessings, graces and opportunities for growth, and the times of struggle that opened windows for a greater realisation of self.
One of the greatest joys for me was the meeting of Guardians (community superiors) in September. We have been meeting quarterly online for two years, but our in-person meetings deepen our relationships and train Guardians for their role as animators of our fraternities.
“Animation” is a tricky word, especially when used in the context of a fraternity. To animate is to give life and if we want to be true to its root meaning (anima = soul), then it is to give soul to the brotherhood. That’s the labour of love of the Guardian for each community, and likewise, of the Custos for the brotherhood of seven communities in Malaysia and Singapore. Encouraged deeply by the dedication of other provinces to the training of Guardians, I have tried to implement formation and training of our Guardians for their primary spiritual call to care for souls – particularly the “soul” of the fraternity. We spent three full days in Kuching, Sarawak working on this, and we also had training in finance and accountability.
In October, I was with our Asian animators for JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation) for a meeting in Sabah to consolidate our current efforts, collaborate with one another and the wider Franciscan Family, and create new initiatives to address real needs on the ground. The focus was on two areas – peace and integral ecology. You can read about this meeting in the News section. The presence of a Franciscan sister, a Secular Franciscan and an Anglican Third Order Franciscan shows the inclusivity and fraternal collaboration among us who follow the spirit of St Francis of Assisi.
I am also grateful for the experience of promoting our Franciscan Calendar 2025, featuring artwork by Friar Robin Toha, and accompanying merchandise. Many thanks to our collaborators and the four parishes we worked with, and to those of you who bought our calendar and merchandise.
In November, Friar Vernon Chua and I accompanied 32 pilgrims on a Franciscan Italy pilgrimage. I went from that to Rome for the meeting of Franciscan Conference Presidents at our OFM Curia (HQ), my first as the President of the South Asia, Australia and Oceania Conference (SAAOC). Upon my return to Singapore, I jumped straight into the Closing Residency Programme of the Asian Franciscan Formators Training (AFFT). These two weeks of in-person sessions included an experience of the process of Franciscan Formative Accompaniment with a Swiss friar-psychologist.
There is so much happening, and we friars are fortunate to have you journeying with us in prayer and generous contributions. We remain extremely grateful to you all, and we wish you and your loved ones a very fruitful Advent into Christmas and the New Year!
When Friar Derrick Yap asked me to create a series of artwork based on The Canticle of Creatures for the 2025 Franciscan Calendar, my first response was “No, I can’t”. I was busy with other commitments, and I said to myself that “my art days were over”. But either he pretended he did not hear my response, or he really believed I could do it, because Friar Derrick insisted that I try.
That was around September-October 2023. I gave myself a deadline to produce at least two artworks by March 2024, but by April, I still had zero inspiration. I asked Friar Derrick to ask someone else. I even recommended one or two artists. But again, he “pretended” he did not understand what I said.
By mid-May, I was worried. I prayed that the Lord would move Friar Derrick’s heart – but what happened was that the Lord moved me instead. While I was praying one day, I realised that I had not done any art lately because I was afraid that I was not good enough. I had painted a few good paintings in the past and a few not-so-good ones. And because I had done a few good ones, I self-sabotaged by pressurising myself to always produce something that would be admired. I was paralysed by the criticism I had received before, especially from people who mattered to me.
I have no formal training in art, but during my Novitiate (second year Franciscan formation) in 2015, I found painting materials in one of the drawers in the friary and decided to try painting something. It was then that I learnt that the process of painting helped me to focus and to pray.
When I am painting, my eyes, my hand, and my mind are focused; my whole body and mind are “present”. I converse with God as I choose the colours, shape, and other details in the painting.
This memory of my novitiate journey gave me the courage to try to do the artwork for the calendar, but this time, I did not paint with acrylics. Instead, I did digital painting on my iPad.
I asked the Lord to guide me, to help me express my prayer and reflection in colours and shapes. And so, my three-week journey with The Canticle of Creatures began. It took me five evenings (9.30pm to midnight) each week to complete the artwork for the calendar.
I knew that when St Francis composed the canticle, he was not well physically. Therefore, the first thing I did was to imagine how he would have felt to have many diseases in his body. After praying each paragraph of the canticle, I stopped and reflected on the words.
Slowly, the words and my imagination of St Francis’ feelings and pain formed colours in my mind, and I tried to shape them into specific pictures. This was when the darker and more intense colours were chosen for the artwork for Brothers Sun, Wind, and Fire, and the much gentler and warmer colours for Sisters Moon, Water, and Earth. Interestingly, I found that the intensity of the colours correlated with the time spent. I needed more time to paint the “Brothers”, to reflect on my own struggles. The reflection on these “Brothers” also challenged me and my faith. When it came to the “Sisters”, the process was more comforting and easier.
There are nine artworks based on The Canticle of Creatures, and we added three more to have one artwork for each month of the year. These were inspired by important events in the life of St Francis – the Stigmata, the encounter with the wolf, and Christmas. They took more time as each of them challenged me to ask myself, “Who am I, really?” and “Who is God?”.
I thank the Lord for my renewed connection with the canticle. Through the praises of the creatures, I learnt more about God and myself. I am grateful and proud of each piece. They are not masterpieces, but they are honest prayers expressed in colours.
As we want people to be able to reflect on the canticle and the images, we have compiled an e-journal containing guided reflections. This can be downloaded using the QR code in the calendar.
I hope the calendar and journal will help everyone who is yearning for God. When we stop and look around, we can appreciate the goodness of God in our life, and as our response, live our life to the fullest, filled with joy.
