The Custody of St Anthony Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei is blessed to have a good number of young brothers in various stages of formation in 2024.
Two candidates – Jonathan Ng from Singapore and Maximillian Alexson from Kuching, Sarawak – joined the postulancy programme on 14 January this year. Postulancy is the initial stage of the formation journey in the long process of discernment to religious life. (Click here for photos of the event)
Brother Jorgerson Japar, who is from Sarawak, has completed his novitiate. He made his First Profession of Simple Vows on 6 January at St Anthony Friary, and begins his first year in philosophy at St Francis Xavier Major Seminary. (Click here for photos of the event)
Brother Julian Chua has completed his philosophy studies, and will begin his Franciscan year soon. The Franciscan year is when friars in formation are sent to a Franciscan entity beyond their Custody to experience community and mission work in a different culture and environment. Brother Julian will go to the Pakistan Province for his Franciscan year.
Having completed his Franciscan year in Indonesia last year, Brother Marvin Voo returns to the formation house at Greccio Friary in Singapore to continue his formation and studies.
Finally, Brother Nelson Evarinus has completed his priestly formation studies, and was ordained as a deacon on 14 January 2024 at St Ann’s Church, Kuching, Sarawak. He has been assigned to the Church of the Risen Christ, Penang for his diaconate ministry. Whilst in Penang, he will also do a course on Clinical Pastoral Experience at Mount Miriam Hospital. (Click here for photos of the event)
For the Franciscan friar, formation begins the moment God calls, and continues through the various stages of formation that deepen the call to community life, to ministry, and finally to embracing the evangelical vows for life. We thank God for these brothers in formation, for their openness to the Holy Spirit, who is the ultimate formator, guiding them in the footsteps of St Francis, to be at service to Christ and his Church. Please join us in praying that they may continue to grow in their love and commitment as friars minor.
The path to the diaconate has been a transformative journey marked by self-discovery, spiritual growth and commitment to the teachings of Christ. As I prepared for my diaconate ordination on 14 January 2024 at St Ann’s Church, Kuching, Sarawak, the verses from Matthew 23:11-12 were a guiding light. “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humble, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
This is the essence of what it means to be a deacon – to be a servant, to embrace humility, and to find greatness in selfless acts of love and compassion.
I reflected on these words with a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility. They are a call to emulate the humility of Christ who washed the feet of his disciples, exemplifying the essence of servant leadership. They are a reminder that humility is not a virtue reserved for the cloistered halls of a monastery, but an indispensable quality for anyone aspiring to follow Christ’s teachings. The measure of greatness lies not in the accolades we receive but in the lives we touch and the burdens we help carry.
Following my ordination, I will be posted to the Church of the Risen Christ in Penang for six months. This opportunity to serve in a different community is a chance to embody the teachings of Matthew 23:11- 12 in a practical way by walking alongside the people of Penang, sharing in their joys and sorrows, and offering the comforting presence of a servant-leader.
While in Penang, I will also be taking Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) studies, which will help to refine my pastoral skills, deepen my understanding of human suffering, and enhance my ability to offer compassionate care to those in need.
The journey ahead in Penang promises to be a time of profound learning and growth. May the footsteps of this humble servant leave an indelible mark on the hearts of those I am called to serve, as I strive to show Christ’s love in every act of kindness and compassion.
PULAU TIKUS, Penang – The Order of Friars Minors (OFM) celebrated a solemn Requiem Mass for a “simple” Franciscan friar at the Church of the Risen Christ here on 5 Dec 2023. The sudden death of Friar Arul Sagayaraj Mariadass, 60, on Nov 28 in Sabah came as a shock to those who knew him. He was assigned less than a year in the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese.
The Franciscan Friars pay final respects to their deceased confrere
Born in 1963 in Penang, the deceased entered the Franciscan Order, made his solemn profession in 1995, and was ordained a priest in 1997. The deceased was well-known for his simplicity and availability, according to those who knew him well. This was brought out during the eulogies delivered by his nephew and nieces before Mass began.
The Mass was presided by Friar Derrick Yap, Custos of the Custody of St Anthony (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei), while the homily was preached by Friar Michael D’ Cruz to a jam-packed church. He was buried at the Kelawei Road Catholic Cemetery.
From the 8th December 2023 till the 2nd February 2024 in every Franciscan church
On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the “Nativity scene of Greccio”, the Apostolic Penitentiary granted a plenary indulgence to all the faithful who, from 8 December 2023 (Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary) to 2 February 2024 ( Feast of the Presentation in the Temple of Our Lord Jesus Christ) will visit a Nativity scene in a church entrusted to the Franciscan friars all over the world.
The Franciscan Family had forwarded this request to the Holy Father on the 17th April 2023, “in order to promote the spiritual renewal of the faithful and increase the life of grace,” as reads the petition sent to the Apostolic Penitentiary. “By stopping in prayer in front of the nativity scenes”, the faithful may obtain the Plenary Indulgence under the usual conditions. “Likewise, those who are sick or unable to participate physically can equally benefit from the gift of the plenary indulgence, offering their sufferings to the Lord or carrying out practices of piety”.
As the Franciscan family celebrates the 800th anniversary of the Rule of St. Francis on 29 November, Fr. Luke Gregory of the Custody of the Holy Land reflects on the evangelical creativity and freshness that the ‘Regula Bullata’ represents for the entire Church.
In their essentiality, the Chapters of the Regula Bullata of Saint Francis of Assisi contain an abundant wealth of indications and stimuli for the Christian life, which for 800 years has raised, oriented, and supported hosts of simple men and women, determined to follow Jesus and the Gospel: the Friars Minor — “The Franciscans”.
We are able to “read” the best commentary on this Holy Rule in the lives of our Franciscan brothers and sisters, who throughout history have distinguished themselves for virtue and holiness.
Allow me to limit myself to underlining some traits that always fascinate me for the wisdom and concreteness wherewith they are imbued, and which have the strength to restore impetus and meaning to my own vocation.
Radical adherence to the Gospel
Saint Francis cares that his brothers observe “the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, living in obedience, without anything of their own and in chastity” (cf. chapter i), radically, without discounts, with every fiber of their being and in perfect communion with the Church and in obedience to the Holy Father, the Pope, which was absolutely essential to Francis’ vision of renewing and building up the Kingdom of God.
Even the criterion for verifying the seriousness of intention of the new brothers is profoundly ecclesial: “The ministers must then diligently examine them regarding the Catholic faith and the sacraments of the Church. And if they believe all these things and are willing to faithfully profess them and observe them steadfastly to the end” (cf. chapter ii, 2).
There are very clear and essential requests: the path of evangelical perfection is open to all, but only those who choose it with freedom and awareness adhere to it.
Our Seraphic and much beloved Father Saint Francis has imprinted an exemplary balance in the Holy Rule: everyone is called to develop firm radicalism towards themselves, but, at the same time, to exercise great mercy towards their brothers and sisters.
The radical nature of adhering to the Gospel must be experienced as a stimulus and support for one’s conversion but must never translate into contemptuous and demeaning judgment of other men (and women) (cf. chapter ii, 14).
Freshness of the truth
Saint Francis identified for himself and proposed to his brothers a sure way to adhere to the Gospel: poverty!
“The friars do not appropriate anything, neither house, nor place, or anything else. And as pilgrims and strangers in this world, serving the Lord in poverty and humility, let them go for alms with confidence” (cf. chapter vi, 1-2).
In the mind of Saint Francis, poverty has the flavour of a privilege, an honour, a grace; it is certainly not a reason for shame!
The profound reason for this choice, in fact, is not primarily of an ascetic or penitential nature, but is Christological.
“Nor should they be ashamed, because the Lord became poor for us in this world” (cf. chapter vi, 3).
Everything contributes to following Jesus, to becoming conformed to Him, to sharing the same life as Him: “This is the sublimity of the highest poverty!” (cf. chapter vi, 4).
The charm of the holiness of Francis of Assisi lies entirely in his surprising resemblance to Jesus, which he developed with an authentically evangelical life.
In his rule he has traced a path for us that is safe and not subject to the wear and tear of time, because both he as a figure and his Holy Rule enjoy the freshness of the simple and wholesome truth.
