Autonomy? Many have asked me what is different now that the Custody of St Anthony Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei is no longer under the Province of the Holy Spirit in Australia.
Honestly, nothing much has changed as the Australian Province gave us a high level of independence and self-management. The main difference is that now the Custos makes the final decision about legal and finance matters, and safeguarding issues, approvals for Professions and Ordinations, and more. Taking on this responsibility has been a journey of deep learning and serious discernment for me, both purifying and illuminating at the same time!
The new year ushers a new beginning for many, and for us friars, one of these is that we have a brother, Friar Nelson Evarinus, beginning the new year as a deacon. Diakonia means service and it is a beautiful time of exploring the grace of service at the table of the word, the table of the eucharist and the table of the poor.
Nelson’s attachment in Penang will enable him to deepen his self-knowledge and accompaniment of God’s people with the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Programme. He will be guided and supervised in his accompaniment of the people he meets in the hospital and in the parish of the Risen Christ which is under our care.
Speaking of formation, I am happy to report that an Asian Franciscan Formators Training Course is slated to begin in mid-2024. This course is designed to train those who will be forming young men and women in the Franciscan Religious Life in Asia. The idea was mooted at the Asian Franciscan Provincials Meeting in May last year, and I found myself raising my hand to volunteer to develop this course. I had no programme in mind, no professors, no students, no money, no venue, but I raised my hand in faith, trusting that the Lord would provide, as he always has.
In May, our Custody will host the Franciscan Lay Brothers’ Gathering for the South Asia, Australia and Oceania Conference (SAAOC) in Singapore. Lay brothers are friars who feel called to profess their lives into the Franciscan brotherhood, and do not feel called to be ordained as priests. Many exercise their ministries and craft in fields such as spiritual direction and retreat giving, arts and culture, teaching and forming lives and young religious. Many of our formators in the Custody are lay brothers. This gathering is meant to strengthen their identity as lay brothers and to envision the future ahead in the life and mission of lay brothers in this part of the world.
We often enter into the new year with excitement at the possibilities and yes, with a touch of uncertainty too, but we know we navigate the waters of our adventure together with you, and with God! Thank you dear friends and benefactors for your constant support and prayers!
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”.
