Lights, shadows and collaborative commitments in South Asia, Australia and Oceania
The 12 leaders of the Conference of South Asia, Australia and Oceania (SAAOC) met in Singapore from 18 to 21 February. The meeting was chaired by the President of the SAAOC, Br. Derrick Yap, and was also attended by the President of the East Asia Conference (EAC), Br. Lino Gregorio Redoblado, and the General Definitor of the Franciscan Conferences of Asia and Oceania (FCAO), Br. John Wong. The meeting included an afternoon session with four members of the General Curia who were passing through Singapore, Br. Francisco Gomez Vargas and Br. Dennis Tayo of the General Secretariat for Mission and Evangelisation, and Br. Daniel Rodriguez Blanco and Br. Taucen Hotlan Girsang of the General Office for JPIC.
During the meeting, the leaders discussed the “lights” of the Conference, which include an overall growth in the number of new vocations, with solemn professions and ordinations in many Entities over the past year. Other major strengths in many SAAOC Entities include a strong sense of interculturality and healthy fraternal life, relationships and projects. The Ministers were grateful for the creativity in Franciscan life and ministry, with the development of new forms of evangelical presence and mission. The friars present also recognised that there is a healthy sense of mutual support and inter-Entity collaboration in the Conference, with excellent attendance at the two annual meetings of SAAOC Ministers, one in person and one online. Some positive results of inter-Entity and inter-Conference collaboration include the ongoing Asian Franciscan Formators Training (AFFT) course and the Franciscan Network in Asia for Peace and Integral Ecology.
Among the common “shadows” in the Conference is the negative aspect of interculturality, which sometimes manifests itself in regional or cultural divisions among the friars, in lack of trust between some friars and in different personal moral codes. Another challenge faced by many SAAOC Entities is that of formation to the realities of the 21st century, the lack of experienced formators and the gap between formators and friars in initial formation. It was also noted that some applicants to the Order have a very low level of academic qualification or faith background. Some ministers struggle with the lack of trust between some friars, the presence of disruptive friars and the lack of cooperation of some senior friars. It was recognised that in some Entities there is a lack of vocations and in many places there is a lack of qualified personnel to take on responsibilities. Many Entities face the challenge of a highly secularised society and a highly clericalised Church.
The decisions of this SAAOC meeting in February 2025 are as follows:
Formation & Studies 1) To support the renovation of the Centre for Evangelisation (Sampaloc, Philippines); 2) To develop a proposal for an inter-Conference certificate course in English as a Second Language (ESL) for FCAO friars preparing for future studies/ministries/missions; 3) To develop a proposal for a 6-month on-line Italian language course for FCAO friars preparing for future studies in Italy; 4) To continue to support and develop the Asian Franciscan Formators Training (AFFT), including a proposal for a new Ongoing Formation Programme for Directors of Ongoing Formation (PDOF) and update modules for current formators in the FCAO; 5) To ask the General Curia to update the Ratio Formationis Franciscanae to include more aspects of formation for lay friars.
Mission and Evangelisation 6) To convene the New Forms Working Group (NFWG) established at the New Forms Meeting in Vietnam in January 2025; 7) To promote the Online Primer Course (OPC) on Interculturality in Asia, Australia and Oceania; 8) to develop a proposal for a one-year programme for the preparation of missionaries after solemn profession.
JPIC 9) To continue to support the ongoing efforts of the Franciscan Network in Asia for peace and the integrity of creation.
Safeguarding of minors and vulnerable adults 10) To bring together all the FCAO Safeguarding Directors in a Safeguarding Support Team for ongoing formation, collaboration, mutual support and learning.
Administration 11) To produce updated job descriptions for all SAAOC roles – President, Vice-President, Bursar, Secretaries and Animators; 12) To review and update the SAAOC Statutes with reference to those of the EAC.
Proposed Franciscan Foundation for Asia 13) To support the current preparatory plans for the proposal to establish a Franciscan Foundation in Singapore to serve financial needs of projects in the FCAO Entities and beyond.
Malaysia, the collaboration between JPIC and the Creation Justice Committee
From 19 to 22 February 2025, the Church of St. Ann in Kuching (Diocese of Kuching, East Malaysia) welcomed three friars from the General Curia of Rome: Br. Daniel Rodriguez Blanco and Br. Taucen Girsang (respectively Director and Vice-Director of the General JPIC Office), and Br. Dennis Tayo (General Animator for Missions). Their visit was a moment of deep reflection, reinforcing the Franciscan call to justice, peace, and care for creation.
Their insights strengthened the mission of Creation Justice in Kuching, particularly in reducing plastic waste, promoting renewable energy, and supporting sustainable practices. This visit also fostered collaboration among friars in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, integrating ecological justice with social transformation.
A key focus was the Bunan Resilience Project, which seeks to restore indigenous children’s connection to their ancestral land, ensuring their right to heritage and dignity. The friars’ reflections opened hearts to the urgent call of caring for the poor and embracing integral ecology as a Gospel imperative.
Creation Justice and JPIC: A Shared Mission
This visit was an opportunity to deepen the collaboration between Creation Justice and JPIC, opening the eyes of Franciscan friars in Kuching to the interconnection between social justice and care for the earth. The Franciscan mission calls us to walk alongside the marginalized, advocating for both human dignity and environmental sustainability.
By working together, JPIC and Creation Justice can strengthen education and advocacy, empowering communities to protect their land and resources. The Bunan Resilience Project exemplifies how justice for the poor and justice for creation go hand in hand. Through shared initiatives, friars can become catalysts for ecological and social transformation, ensuring that care for creation remains a lived expression of the Gospel.
Taking care of the earth is an ongoing journey. Each action, no matter how small, is a step toward a just and sustainable world. Let us continue to walk this path together, responding to the cry of the earth and the poor with renewed commitment and hope.
PLENTONG, Johor: Nearly 500 parishioners gathered at the Church of St Joseph for a farewell luncheon honouring Fr Moses Yap, OFM and Fr Sixtus Pitah, OFM, December 15. The occasion also welcomed the new parish priest, Fr Matthew Bun, who began his service on January 1, 2025.
Fr Moses, who has served at the Church of St Joseph for nine years since his posting in 2015, and Fr Sixtus, who completed two terms at the parish, were bid farewell with deep gratitude and affection.
The event began with a parishioner’s angelic rendition of the Magnificat, a hymn of praise to God and Our Lady, followed by an opening prayer led by Fr Moses.
The church compound buzzed with activity as four buffet stations ensured smooth food distribution for the large crowd. A series of performances then added to the celebratory yet bittersweet atmosphere.
The Evangelical concert team, under Fr Moses’ guidance, performed The Children of God and Love, Peace, Joy, encouraging everyone to join in joyful praise.
The Mandarin choir and youth groups sang both praise-and-worship songs and soul-stirring hymns, expressing their love for God and appreciation for the priests.
English catechism students performed an Advent hymn, Await the Lord with Hope, and the Christmas carol, What Child Is This.
The Bahasa catechism children closed the performances with vibrant modern dances.
Speeches followed the musical tributes. PPC chairman Joseph Pong thanked Fr Moses for his tireless dedication to the parish, nurturing the spiritual growth of parishioners and gently correcting their errors. Mandarin Apostolate chairman Paul Ho, representing the Mandarin community, spoke emotionally about the priests’ contributions. He highlighted Fr Moses’ instrumental role in expanding the Mandarin-speaking Legion of Mary from one troop to six and establishing a new Bahasa-speaking troop — all by the grace of God and Our Lady’s intercession.
Both departing priests shared their reflections. Fr Moses likened missionary priests to clouds, moved by the wind according to God’s will, reminding everyone that priests serve different communities as needed. He emphasised the priest’s role in spiritually nourishing God’s flock. Fr Sixtus expressed his heartfelt gratitude to parishioners for their shared journey over the years.
Fr Moses warmly welcomed Fr Matthew Bun, expressing confidence in his leadership for the parish’s future.
The event concluded on an emotional note, as parishioners queued to take photos with the priests and offer their well wishes. Fr Moses, Fr Sixtus, and Fr Matthew gave their blessings to the congregation before departing.
The parish community will deeply miss both Franciscan friars, especially their teachings, spiritual guidance, and joyous celebration of the Feast of St Francis. Their legacy of encouraging parishioners to praise God for all His creations and embrace the peace and joy of a simple life will remain cherished.
The Franciscan world is sectioned into 12 conferences for better management and collaboration. Two are in Asia Pacific – EAC: East Asia Conference with eight entities, and SAAOC: South Asia, Australia, Oceania Conference with 12 entities, of which I serve as President.
Friar John Wong, the Custos before me, is the Definitor General for the whole of Asia, and we work together on various projects for the betterment of the Asian entities.
Every year, the Conference Presidents gather for updates, evaluations, and discussions about the future. This year, we convened in Rome at our OFM Curia (headquarters) from 19 to 24 November 2024. It was my first meeting, and I found it a beautiful time of sharing among brothers. It was wonderful to witness the diversity of the brothers within the Order and the shared Franciscan spirit that permeates us all.
We gave much attention to the Chapter of Mats, which will take place in June 2025 in Assisi. A Chapter is a meeting of Religious where issues are deliberated upon, and decisions are made for the coming term of office. The various entities conduct their own Chapter of Mats among the Franciscan friars, Franciscan sisters, and Secular Franciscans. The results are compiled at Conference level and presented at the global Chapter of Mats in June.
From this Chapter of Mats, we surface issues to deliberate upon at the Plenary Council of the Order (PCO), which takes place immediately after the Chapter of Mats. The primary role of the PCO is to evaluate how well the General Definitory has been functioning and the direction it should pursue for its remaining three years of service.
We also discussed New Forms of Evangelisation, Lay Brothers Gathering, Fraternal Economy, and initial and ongoing Formation. The Minister General also gave his report after having served three years as General. It was an authentic report of the state of the Order and a vision of where we are heading.
We also considered where to hold the General Chapter in 2027. There is keen interest to venture beyond Assisi, the traditional venue, to places where the Church is growing, such as Asia.
In the spirit of St Francis’ desire to bring the good news to all peoples, especially to the poor, the Missions Office has put out fresh processes to better prepare missionaries in-situ. Preparatory training will be conducted in missionary lands, typically in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
As a new Conference President, my key takeaway from this meeting is that the Franciscan brotherhood is very much alive and dynamic, even though vocations and our overall numbers are diminishing. There is a deep desire to focus on initial and ongoing formation, to find opportunities to collaborate on impactful projects, and to dare to dream anew, such as in the New Forms of Evangelisation. It is a great platform, on the global stage so to speak, to clarify issues and voice out concerns from our Asian context. My prayer is that this continued fraternal contact, communication, and discernment will bear lasting fruit in the building of the Kingdom of God wherever we friars might be.
In October, a group of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) animators gathered in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah to discuss the shape and function of the new Franciscan Network for Peace and Integral Ecology in Asia, and how it can respond to JPIC issues in the region.
The network is the result of a resolution at the Franciscan Conference of Asia and Oceania (FCAO) meeting in April 2024. The FCAO comprises the East Asia Conference (EAC) and the South Asia, Australia, and Oceania Conference (SAAOC).
As JPIC Animator of the Custody of Saint Anthony (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei), I hosted the meeting, held from 17-23 October 2024, with Sr Marina Anjuman OFS, National Minister of the Secular Franciscans (OFS) in Malaysia.
At the meeting were representatives from the two conferences as well as the Secular Franciscans, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, Franciscans International, the General Office for JPIC, and the General Secretariat for Mission and Evangelisation.
In addition, Minister General Friar Massimo Fusarelli OFM and Definitor General for Asia and Oceania Friar John Wong OFM called in to address us. They emphasised the importance of coordinating JPIC and Mission and Evangelisation efforts, and expressed their hope that the new network would become a platform for our collective contribution towards building a better world.
A wide range of topics of importance to Asia were discussed – migration (human trafficking, refugees, and asylum seekers), extractive industries (mining, tourism, which threaten the living space of small communities), climate change and the threat to indigenous peoples, and the violation of human rights experienced by indigenous peoples.
Friar Gregorio Lino Redoblado OFM, President of the EAC, also called in to the meeting. He emphasised the importance of coordinating efforts as a united Franciscan family to work toward justice, peace, and integral ecology. He urged that we not remain a “sleeping giant” but respond actively to the challenges and needs in Asia. By working together, we will become a stronger force for good.
Friar Derrick Yap OFM, President of the SAAOC, too stressed the need to work as one family, with a common vision and goal. He asked us to reflect on whether we see ourselves as masters or stewards of this world. JPIC should never be placed on the back burner, he said, encouraging us to spread the messages of the key documents, especially at the local level, for greater effectiveness. Friar Derrick also pointed out that a contemplative dimension must be central to our approach, urging us to reject greed.
The programme included a visit, led by Sr Calista FSIC, to the villagers of Bolotikon, Papar to learn about their Forest Conservation project for water catchment, as well as activities to learn about the culture and traditions of the ethnic communities in Sabah.
The group also learned about the Franciscan family in Sabah. We made a courtesy visit to the Mother General of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, and met with the sisters, and with members of the Secular Franciscans.
At the conclusion of the meeting, everyone agreed that the network would promote new initiatives in seeking peace with others and all creation; build collaboration amongst Franciscan brothers and sisters (religious and lay) especially regarding peace building, nonviolence, and care for mother earth; and seek opportunities for dialogue with other beliefs and cultures, in the spirit of Assisi.
In the heart of Lisbon, a city rich in history and spirituality, Friars Aiden Peter, Sixtus Pitah and Robin Toha, along with 59 young people from the Churches of St Mary of the Angels, Blessed Sacrament, and Immaculate Heart of Mary, shared in a global message of love, inclusivity and hope at World Youth Day 2023.
World Youth Day in Lisbon brought together more than 1.5 million young souls from around the world, offering them an array of spiritually enriching talks, solemn praying of the Stations of the Cross in the presence of Pope Francis, and a moving closing mass presided over by His Holiness himself.
Held from 1 to 6 August, World Youth Day 2023 transcended mere participation. It was a spiritual awakening that will echo in the hearts of the young pilgrims for years to come, a testament to the enduring power of faith and the joy of connecting with others through shared beliefs.
Pope Francis’ message of inclusivity and love resonated deeply with the youthful audience, who eagerly absorbed his words of wisdom.
Reflecting on the Holy Father’s message, Friar Aiden, who led the contingent, said,
“Pope Francis is the pope of relationships, the pope who welcomes all to the church. Everyone has a place in the church.”
Pope Francis, renowned for his warmth and approachability, appeared entirely at ease with the young pilgrims, and many pilgrims left the six-day event feeling cherished, enriched, and emboldened, holding on to the Pope’s profound message as a beacon of hope and unity.
As World Youth Day drew to a close, the Pope announced that the next World Youth Day would be held in South Korea in 2027. The excitement of the pilgrims was palpable; they were already looking forward to another spiritually transformative WYD experience.
Pope Francis also disclosed plans for a Youth Jubilee in Rome in 2025, underscoring the importance of youth engagement within the Church. These upcoming events continue the tradition of bringing together young people from every corner of the globe to celebrate their faith and deepen their connection with God.
