Blessed Feast of St Anthony

Blessed Feast of St Anthony

by | Jun 12, 2020 | Custody, Spirituality

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

A blessed and joyous Feast Day of St Anthony to you!

To celebrate the feast of our Custody’s patron, we invite you to join us for the online Feast Day Mass of St Anthony here.

In addition, we are delighted to launch our updated website which features many new and exciting content, including reflections, Custody news and a brand-new virtual shrine in honour of St Anthony. You are most welcome to submit your petitions to our beloved brother and saint!

By improving our online presence, we hope to minister to you in a relevant, effective and meaningful way. Do check us out here at www.franciscans.sg  We have also prepared a special tribute to St Anthony (below) where Friar Derrick shares his love and connection to St Anthony in a new video.

May the Lord grant you blessings, peace and joy always! Alleluia!

Tweeting the Good News?

Tweeting the Good News?

by | Apr 2, 2020 | Custody

With dioceses around the nation suspending masses, sacraments, and other in-person worship services—as well as all public gatherings—for the foreseeable future as a result of the extraordinary measures government and health officials are implementing to reduce the spread of COVID-19, our brothers have resorted to an expanded and comprehensive digital outreach effort to stay connected in prayer and worship with families and friends.

Utilizing social media platforms – along with some creativity – the friars are now bringing prayer and worship, meditations and reflections, and faith-sharing directly into the homes of thousands of Catholics.

Connect with us through our Official Website, Youtube, Instagram and Facebook.

Four Friars For Solemn Profession

Four Friars For Solemn Profession

by | Feb 8, 2020 | Custody, Vocation

The Solemn Profession of Four Franciscan Friars.

Over a thousand people from Singapore and beyond, attended the solemn profession of Friars Robin Toha, Crispus Mosinoh, Sixtus Pitah and Gerald Tan, at the Church of St Mary of the Angels, Bukit Batok, on the 8th February 2020.

The solemn profession mass, presided by the Minister Provincial of Holy Spirit Province, Friar Phillip Miscamble, began with a procession: firstly, of the four friars accompanied by their parents, then followed by the other Franciscan friars and celebrants. Gracing the event with their presence were families from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, diocesan seminarians, religious congregations including the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (FSIC), the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood (FMDM), the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM), the Redemptorists, Canossian Sisters, Infant Jesus Sisters, Gabrielite brothers, Good Shepherd sisters, Missionaries of Charity (MC) sisters, Carmelite friars, secular Franciscans and many others.

            What was unique about this solemn profession was the blessing of the four friars by their parents, a ceremony similarly found in an Indonesian traditional wedding. The Custos of the Custody of St. Anthony, Friar Derrick Yap thanked the congregation who came from near and far, in spite of the on-going threat of the CoVid-19 virus in Singapore.

            The four friars who just had taken their solemn profession will continue to stay at Greccio Friary, Chestnut Drive as they continue their studies at St Francis Xavier Major Seminary, Singapore. They are expected to conclude their seminary formation by 2021.

Finally, and most importantly, we thank the Lord for calling each one of us on the path of holiness and conversion. Whether as consecrated religious or not, may all of us be channels of peace and grace after the example of our beloved saint, St Francis of Assisi.

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.

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.