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.
We had a double celebration on 17 September 2024 – the 800th anniversary of the Stigmata of St Francis of Assisi on Mt Alvernia and the Solemn Profession of Friar Marvin Voo OFM.
When Marvin applied for his Solemn Profession earlier this year, we looked at a few dates that would be meaningful for his total consecration to the Lord in the Franciscan way. The anniversary of the 8th Centenary of the Stigmata was an obvious choice. The double celebration would give all of us an opportunity to reflect on our own consecration to the Lord and the deep meaning behind Francis receiving the very wounds of the Crucified Christ.
During a period of retreat on Mt Alvernia in 1224, Francis entered repeatedly into the question – “Who are you, O God and who am I?”. He begged God for two graces – to experience the pain and suffering of Jesus on the cross and to experience the love that brought him up on the cross. What courage to open himself to the very experience that Christ went through. Are we daring enough to walk this path to our own Mt Alvernia?
Like consecrated Religious Life, which appears to be a life of deprivation and hence suffering, the journey is ultimately about freeing us from compulsions and freeing us to love God completely. As Franciscans, we have the added dimension of walking this journey of freedom with our fraternity. So, the freedom is multi-faceted: from, to, with. This is the true meaning of freedom that we in consecrated Religious Life witness to and radiate. This is how those who live an authentic religious life always radiate joy and peace, which is what Pope Francis says we Christians must be.
Pope Francis shows us the way, and we are so grateful to God for the Holy Father’s visit to Singapore (11 to 13 September 2024).
The Papal Visit was truly a call to discern where the Lord is leading our world today, particularly into greater care for Creation and stronger fraternal bonds with one another.
Friar Vernon Chua, our three Franciscan students – Friars Marvin, Jorgerson and Jonathan – and I participated in the post-mass praise and worship segment, and we felt such tremendous joy and graced energy singing and praising the Lord!
As co-chair of the pre- and post-mass segments with Fr Valerian Cheong, I met many good people wanting to serve the Lord and his Church. We were united in our desire to make the visit an evangelising event that would draw Catholics together and attract others to our life-giving faith.
This, I think, is the great gift of the Papal Visit and I pray that this goodness will grow deeper and deeper in our hearts.
Finally, I have to make an appeal to you, our friends and benefactors, for donations to our OFM maintenance fund for the painting of our friaries and columbarium.
We friars try to be good stewards of our Bukit Batok property by maintaining it properly for the good of all. Right now, this means repainting the entire property.
The Franciscan Friars and the parish of St Mary of the Angels are splitting the cost, and we (the friars) need to raise about S$250,000 to cover our share of the repainting cost.
Donations can be made via PayNow or cheque. (PayNow: UEN 201016236M1CU, kindly state “Maintenance” under Reference. Cheques should be made payable to “The Order of Friars Minor (S) Ltd”. Please indicate “Maintenance” on the back of the cheque)
KOTA PADAWAN — The St Ann’s Church community was filled with joy as they welcomed their new priest, Friar Nelson Evarinus Sipalan, OFM on 18 August 2024. His arrival marked the beginning of a new chapter in the parish’s spiritual journey, bringing with it fresh energy, dedication, and a deep commitment to serving the people.
Parishioners of St Ann’s Church gathered with great enthusiasm to extend a heartfelt welcome to Friar Nelson. The Church, adorned with vibrant decorations and filled with the harmonious sounds of the choir, reflected the community’s excitement.
Friar Nelson Evarinus Sipalan, a member of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), has with him a strong foundation in Franciscan spirituality. Born and raised in Membakut, Sabah, Friar Nelson felt a calling to the priesthood at a young age. After years of study, prayer, and service, he was ordained as a priest, dedicating his life to serving the Church and its faithful.
During the dinner, PPC Chairman Judas Anak Ligon took the opportunity to speak, offering words of welcome and encouragement to Friar Nelson. He expressed his excitement about the new chapter in the parish’s life and their eagerness to work closely with him in the coming years.
Friar Nelson, visibly moved by the warm reception, addressed the gathering, expressing his deep appreciation for the warm welcome and the effort that had gone into organising the dinner.
“I am incredibly touched by the love and support I have received since I was in Sabah, up until my arrival here,” Friar Nelson said.
“This evening is a beautiful reminder of the strength of our community, and I am excited to begin this journey with all of you. Together, we can build a parish that is not only strong in faith but also in our love and care for one another.”
The evening continued with lively conversations, laughter, and a sense of camaraderie that underscored the strong bonds within the parish community. The dinner served as a perfect start to Friar Nelson’s celebration of Mass at St Ann’s, setting the tone for a collaborative and spiritually enriching journey ahead.
As the event drew to a close, parishioners left with full hearts, excited for the future and grateful for the opportunity to come together to celebrate their new priest. The welcome dinner was not just a meal but a powerful expression of the community’s commitment to supporting Friar Nelson and each other in their shared faith journey. It is the beginning of another wonderful chapter for everyone at St Ann’s, Kota Padawan. May God bless us all!
KOTA PADAWAN, Kuching: Ministri Pelayan Komuni Bukan Lazim paroki St Ann Kota Padawan telah mengadakan Rekoleksi Pelayan Komuni Bukan Lazim (PKBL) 2024 di Gereja St Michael, Teng Bukap pada Ogos 3 lalu.
Sesi kali ini bertemakan, “Peranan Pelayan Komuni Bukan Lazim Sebagai Gembala Yang Baik Dan Benar”.
Program ini dimulakan pada pukul 8.00 pagi dengan Misa Kudus. Diikuti dua perkongsian dan taklimat berkaitan tema PKBL 2024.
Perkongsian bagi sesi pertama disampaikan oleh Katekis Joseph Juni manakala perkongsian kedua disampaikan oleh Friar Don Don Romero Ramerez, OFM.
Pada akhir program, sebuah siborium sumbangan PKBL paroki St Ann Kota Padawan telah diserahkan secara rasmi kepada Friar Don Don selaku Rektor Gereja St Ann Kota Padawan.
Program yang dihadiri seramai 95 PKBL ini tamat pukul 12.30 tengah hari.
Ia akan dilanjutkan lagi pada masa akan datang sebagai satu program tahunan PKBL Paroki St Ann Kota Padawan.
