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.
