The OFS brothers and sisters of Asia and Oceania, after the postponed Congress in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, finally have the joy of coming together with the emerging fraternity of Malaysia to celebrate the joy of belonging to the Franciscan family. The Congress was held at Gaya Centre Hotel in the city of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah – Malaysia – from 23-29 October 2025. 72 brothers and sisters from Australia, China, Korea, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Timor Leste, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines, and Vietnam participated.
The Congress was officially opened by the celebration of the Holy Mass presided over by the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, Most Rev. John Wong, who, in his homily, reminded the participants about the theme of the Congress, “Go and Repair my Church,” by telling them that it is important to invert this, beginning with ‘Church’– as a community of believers that need constant conversion – ‘repairing’ – oneself through repentance, then ‘Go’ and share what you have received from the Lord.
At the end of the Holy Mass, the participants had a group photo, followed by the presentation of the General Minister, Tibor Kauser, OFS, who emphasized the idea of how to repair the Church: “Repair a fraternal life within self and others – but avoid repairing what is not even broken.” He then spoke about “The role of the OFS fraternal animator for YouFra” and “The sense of belonging and responsibility in OFS and YouFra.”
Then many topics were presented during the week. Br. Stefan Acatrinei, OFMConv, spoke on the “Canticle of Creatures,” and Br. Pedro Zitha, OFM, presented on “Servant Leadership; Spiritual Assistance and JPIC; and JPIC Spirituality.” The following day, there was a presentation by Mark Aimazan, YouFra Coordinator for Asia-Oceania and Africa, on the “Role of OFS and Sense of Belonging and Co-responsibility in OFS and YouFra; YouFra Activities in the Philipines, Vietnam, Taiwan,” as well as “Vocation Development and Communications; Vocation Promotion in Different National Fraternities.”
On the last day 29 October, there was the wrap up and the participants nominated Vietnam and South Korea to be the next hosting countries in 2028, followed by the closing Holy Mass celebrated by Msgr. Nicholas Stephen. This was then followed by the farewell message and thanks from the Minister General Tibor Kauser, OFS and the departure of all participants.
Following the Custody Chapter of 2025 and the election of the new leadership team for the new term (2025-2028), the following composition of Communities and Ministries are herewith published. These appointments to communities and ministries will take effect from 1 January 2026.
From left: Ms Florence Francis, Ms Martina D’Cruz, Mrs Geraldine Lim, Mr Nicholas Lim, and Ms Lillian Chua receive a blessing from Friar Derrick Yap OFM during their solemn profession into the Secular Franciscan Order at the Church of Saint Mary of the Angels on Oct 4. Photos: Luminaire.
As a teenager, university psychology lecturer Nicholas Gabriel Lim dreamt of becoming a Franciscan friar. He even lived with them to discern a possible vocation.
Although he did not join them and later married, Mr Lim remained in contact with the friars and worked at the Franciscan-run Church of Saint Mary of the Angels in Bukit Batok, serving the youth ministries and the parish community.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, he attended online meetings of the Secular Franciscan Order, a community of Catholics founded by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1221 to allow lay people to follow his vision of the Gospel life without making religious vows.
Its members follow a Rule of Life—inspired by the Italian saint and approved in its current form by Pope St Paul VI in 1978—which emphasises prayer, community life, and peace-making, among other Christian values.
Fra Yap presented each of the newly professed with three items to symbolise their profession: a bible, a lighted candle, and a San Damiano Cross—which St Francis prayed in front of when he received his mission from the Lord.
The road to profession
Inspired by the community’s Franciscan spirituality, Mr Lim, now 47, invited his wife, Geraldine, to join its meetings. Although reluctant at first, she began to appreciate how the Secular Franciscans lived out their life with love and service.
“Though difficult and even painful to live out at times, the Rule is like an SOP (standard operating procedure) for life,” said Mrs Lim, 49. “It leads us to the joy of the Gospel.”
After four years of preparation, the couple made their solemn profession alongside three others as members of the order on Oct 4 at a Mass at St Mary’s.
Secular Franciscans in Singapore
Unlike their religious counterparts—the Friars Minor and Poor Clare nuns—Secular Franciscans do not take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and its lay members may marry.
The Order was established in Singapore in 1952 and has 40 members in four active fraternities today. They meet monthly at the Catholic Centre and churches for prayer and formation, where they reflect on their founder’s life and spirituality, the Rule, and Church teaching.
They also participate in works of mercy which include carolling at homes for the aged, reaching out to the homeless in collaboration with Catholic Welfare Services, and joining overseas missions.
Earlier this year, three members were received into the order, and six more are preparing to make their profession later this year.
What is a third order?
The Secular Franciscans are a “third order”— a branch of a religious order whose members live “in the world” in accordance with their group’s charism. They do not vow poverty or celibacy, and many get married and have families.
For the Franciscans, the “first order” consists of three fraternities of Franciscan friars, including the Order of Friars Minor, who are present in Singapore. The “second order” refers to the Poor Clare nuns.
Women religious who are not cloistered nuns are also tertiaries – members of a third order. These include the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, and the Franciscan Missionaries of Divine Motherhood who founded Mount Alvernia Hospital.
Membership in “secular” third orders is not limited to lay people. Pope St Pius X, who reigned from 1903 to 1914, became a Franciscan tertiary when he was a diocesan parish priest.
Other examples of third orders in Singapore include, the Lay Dominicans and the Secular Order of the Discalced Carmelites. Two Lay Dominicans made their perpetual profession on Oct 7, the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, at the Dominican friary in Serangoon Gardens.
Famous tertiaries include:
St Catherine of Siena, an Italian mystic who reconciled rival claimants to the papacy (Dominican)
St Pier Giorgio Frassati, an Italian activist also involved in the Society of St Vincent de Paul (Dominican)
Christopher Columbus, an explorer who pioneered European exploration of the Americas (Franciscan)
Servant of God Dorothy Day, American social activist (Benedictine oblate)
Parishioners at Saint Anne’s Church were treated to cultural performances and delicacies from eight migrant communities in their parish canteen on Sunday, Sept 21, as part of a carnival to commemorate the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
Some 500 migrants and the local community participated in the festival co-organised by the Sengkang parish and the Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerant People (ACMI).
There, visitors savoured specialities such as the Filipino halo-halo dessert; tortilla de patatas – Spanish omelettes; and bánh mì, a Vietnamese baguette sandwich.
The actual World Day of Migrants and Refugees was celebrated in the wider Church on Oct 4-5 to coincide with the Jubilee of the Missionary World and of Migrants in Rome.
Celebrations at St Anne’s Church closed with a Mass concelebrated by Cardinal William Goh, Parish Priest Father Jovita Ho, and the chaplains of the migrant communities.
Missionaries of hope
Recalling Pope Leo XIV’s message for the World Day—that migrants are missionaries of hope—the Cardinal said the testimonies of migrants who persevered in faith despite difficult circumstances can inspire faith in local Singaporeans.
“Singaporeans tend to take life for granted and we do not appreciate what migrants have to go through,” said Cardinal Goh.
“It is not easy to settle in a new country with different customs and languages. It takes a lot of courage to leave your homeland to find a better life for your family and yourself,” he said to the 500 migrants at the Mass, many of whom were dressed in their traditional wear.
Cardinal Goh concluded his homily by encouraging locals and migrants to work together to evangelise.
“Many of your own countrymen are not Catholic,” he said to the migrants. “Bring them to church, take them out for dinner, establish friendships, and share your faith.”
Being family
In a speech at the end of the Mass, ACMI Chairperson Raymundo Yu said the organisation launched a Migrant Awareness Module earlier this year for teenagers undergoing catechism at four parishes—including St Anne’s Church—as part of their efforts to help local Catholics become “family” to migrants.
As part of the three-weekend programme, the youths learned about migrant communities in Singapore and how the Church teaches its faithful to treat migrants with dignity.
The youth also held charity car washes and music performances in their churches to raise funds to buy pillows, snacks, and gifts for migrant workers.
“Jesus showed us that life is meaningful when we care for our neighbours,” said Mr Yu. “Let us be witnesses to God’s compassion and to hope.”
Friar Michael D’Cruz OFM blessing tealight holders inscribed with the names of children who have died, at last year’s Pieta Memorial Mass at the Church of St Mary of the Angels, Nov 8. Photo: Pieta Singapore.
Speaking to a group of bereaved parents at an audience in Rome last March, the late Pope Francis said, “The loss of a child is an experience that defies theoretical descriptions and rejects the triviality of religious or sentimental words, of sterile encouragements or phrases of circumstance.”
He added, “Pain, especially when it is so deep and devoid of explanations, needs to cling to the thread of a prayer that cries out to God, day and night, not attempting to resolve the drama but to dwell on questions that always return.”
Questions
A question many parents who lose a child ask is, “God, where are you?”
There are no answers. Platitudes such as, “God walks beside you”, or, “it is God’s will”, are of little help to a family broken by the death of a child.
Feelings of abandonment, despair, and betrayal seem a natural response to a cut so deep.
So, how do we support parents who are grieving?
Ways to cope
Pieta Singapore was formed in 2016 to support parents who suffer the loss of their child. My daughter, Ning, died 25 years ago from acute viral encephalitis. I have since met other parents who walk a similar path, suffering the loss of their children – from those unborn to grown adults
Baby Ning at 16 months old in December 1999. Photo: Valerie Lim.
Circumstances of death differ, and sometimes, the loss happened long ago. But always, the hurt remains, and parents seek ways to cope while keeping the faith.
Coping strategies read like a playlist of practical “solutions”, but one should not underestimate the need for a systematic approach to coping with loss. There is no right way to grieve, but there are healthy ways.
Having a support team whom you trust—a spouse, friend, or counsellor—can help with seeing to your daily rest and nourishment and to keep you safe.
New routines keep you balanced as you manage the torrent of confusing emotions each day.
Walks in the park and exercise are beneficial, but if being sociable is uncomfortable, you can indulge in private activities like journaling and reading which can also soothe the wounds of loss.
In our Pieta support sessions, the approach runs deeper. At its core, we try to make visible God’s quiet presence and to encourage parents to lean into, and not away, from God’s embrace.
This seems counter-intuitive, but using Scripture, prayer, and reflection, we can discern where we are in our grief and meet God there.
Every year, Pieta Singapore also holds a Memorial Mass to pray for the souls of children who have died and to unite bereaved parents in faith and hope.
Psalm 34:18 reminds us that “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”.
To the newly-bereaved, this may seem far from the truth, but the message is clear – God offers no answers but instead gives us comfort, consolation, and hope to live fully again one day.
Mary, our Mother
Mary, who herself lost her child, is an example of complete surrender and trust in God. Without seeking answers, she shows us how to hold on and restore the disconnect we may have with God.
The grief-to-healing journey is a winding road and requires patience. The longing for our departed children will never disappear, but it is possible to grow past the sorrow to find peace.
If someone were to ask me where God was when Ning died, I would say He was in the people around me, especially those who had themselves lost a child and helped me navigate the dark, uneven path before me.
I could not feel His presence then, but I know now He was always there.
Valerie Lim is a co-founder of Pieta Singapore, an affiliate of Catholic Family Life. To find out more about Pieta’s 2025 Memorial Mass, visit pieta.familylife.sg
Thank You for Supporting the Franciscan Calendar 2026
With grateful hearts, we are pleased to present this special edition marking the 800th anniversary of the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi. This year’s calendar features the artwork of Ashley Jane Leow, a young parishioner of the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, whose talent adds beauty and freshness to every page.
Monthly reflections to inspire your journey will be available from December 25, 2025. We warmly invite you to return and journey with us again by scanning the QR code.
With prayers and gratitude, we wish you and your loved ones a blessed 2026, filled with peace, joy, and hope in the spirit of St. Francis.
