Friar Sixtus Peter OFM was one of 14 friars from seven countries in the 2025 run of the Asian Franciscan Formators Training (AFFT) programme. He shares a reflection on his experience.
“Six, see if you’re interested in joining next year’s AFFT. If you’re open, Crispus and you can enrol.” That was the simple invitation from our Custos, Derrick, to me in November 2024.
I immediately thought: “Am I going to be a formator?” I had never heard any suggestion that I might be heading in that direction. Still, trying to remain open to God’s prompting – and knowing that Crispus would be journeying alongside me – I agreed.
When I shared my intention with my Bishop and parish priest, they expressed some concern, given my responsibilities in the Diocese of Malacca-Johore. I explained to them that this was something I genuinely desired to undertake as part of my personal growth, particularly in my effort to journey more deeply with the people entrusted to my care. With that, they gave me the green light to proceed.
The training required a great deal of effort and commitment. It was not always easy to understand the lectures and participate meaningfully in the Friday Zoom sessions, and I stayed up past midnight on many nights to watch the video lessons. Often, after watching them once, I would read the transcripts to gain a clearer and deeper understanding. The presenters – friars and lay experts from across the globe – were truly the best of the best, and I did not want to take their sharing lightly.
Over the course of ten months, the lectures helped me become more aware of the different generations and how each views life and faith. I learned about formation realities in various Franciscan entities across different countries, as well as the Franciscan approach to formation and its strong biblical and ecclesial roots. Each lesson was so rich, I often found myself drawing from what I had learnt and weaving it into my Sunday homilies.
Beyond the learning and meaningful exchanges with fellow participants, I received something I did not expect: a renewed sense of fraternity. It is not that I had lost my love for community life. However, since moving out of our formation house at Chestnut Drive, I have been living in a smaller community of three – a life that brings its own joys and challenges.
For the first half of the programme, we met only through Zoom, before finally coming together for an in-person residency in Manila, and another at the end of the programme, this time in Singapore. Though we came from seven countries, we connected almost immediately. It felt as if we had grown together for years. For me, this was God’s quiet but powerful way of rekindling and strengthening my fraternal spirit.
The question still lingers: “Am I going to be a formator?” This time, however, I ask it with greater peace and confidence. If I am called to this path, I know I will not walk it alone. I have a community of brothers who will journey with me, as I journey with them, in forming persons to become who God calls them to be – following in the footsteps of our holy founder, Francis of Assisi.
Greccio Friary was filled with expectation on 10 January 2026 as the friars gathered for a double moment of grace: the reception of two new postulants, Timothy Colond and Matthew S Lim, and the sending forth of three young brothers, Samuel Tan, Daniel Xavier, and Jason Ng, who departed for Manila that afternoon for their immersion postulancy programme leading towards the Novitiate.
Presiding at the Eucharist in the friary chapel, Custos Friar Derrick Yap drew hearts back to what lies at the centre of the Franciscan journey. In his homily, he reminded all gathered that salvation is not only about redemption and the forgiveness of sins. At its heart, salvation is about communion with God.
Friar Derrick noted that the great intellectual gifts and powerful preaching of St Anthony of Padua were rooted in a deep desire to be with God. For St Anthony, holiness was not about achievement, but about presence – remaining close to the Lord in love and fidelity. This same longing animated the entire life of St Francis, whose radical following of Christ reached its mystical summit in the stigmata, the visible sign that Francis had so conformed himself to Christ that he bore in his own body the marks of the Crucified Christ.
In this light, the stages of Franciscan formation – postulancy, immersion, and novitiate – reveal their deeper meaning as pathways by which God draws a person into fuller communion with Himself and into the fraternity and mission of the Order.
For Timothy and Matthew, their reception into postulancy marks the beginning of this journey. Postulancy is the stage of preparing the ground, a period of cultivating the soil before the seeds are planted. It is a time of conversion from secular life to the Franciscan way of life, without yet taking on its full obligations. It is also meant to clarify a candidate’s motivation and enable him to make a genuine and mature decision.
Over the next 12 months, Timothy and Matthew will be formed in the human, Christian, and Franciscan dimensions of their vocation.
Through prayer, study, fraternal living, and guided reflection, they will be invited to grow in effective maturity: learning to choose freely, to let go of what no longer serves their vocation, and to tune their lives to the dynamism of following Christ after the example of St Francis.
Meanwhile, Samuel, Daniel, and Jason have embarked on the next stage of formation – a four-month immersion postulancy programme. Together with four postulants from the Philippines and four from Myanmar, they form an international fraternity that mirrors the global face of the Order.
Their formation will include sectoral exposure, where they will live among fishermen, villagers, farmers, and indigenous communities, learning to recognise Christ present in the lives of the people, especially the poor and those on the margins. They will be attached to Franciscan communities to experience the daily rhythm of prayer, fraternity, and apostolic service that shapes the life of a friar.
These months are meant not only to instruct but also to transform – allowing the Gospel and the fraternal, spiritual, and missionary dimensions of the Franciscan charism to take deeper root before they enter the Novitiate in May.
Vocation is a journey of continual conversion and trust, and the five are united by the same call: to seek God with their whole hearts and to follow Christ in the way of St Francis. Let us keep them in our prayers as they grow in communion with God and in joy within the Franciscan brotherhood.
From left to right Back row: Friar Francisco Basnayake, Friar Gerard Victor, Friar Kenny Anthonysamy Front row: Friar Jorgerson Japar, Friar Marvin Voo, Friar Vernon Chua
Named after Greccio in Italy’s Rieti Valley, Greccio Friary is a formation community that lives the Gospel daily through fraternity, prayer, work and study in simplicity. The friary stands within the grounds of the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus school in Upper Bukit Timah.
Our Greccio community is made up of six friars – Francisco Jude, Gerard Victor, Kenny Anthonysamy, Vernon Chua, Jorgerson Japar and myself – living together as one fraternity.
As Guardian, Friar Francisco cares for both the physical and spiritual well-being of the community. He presides at daily Mass in the chapel and used to work with the Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerant People (ACMI). He now works with the Prison Ministry.
Friar Gerard alternates with Friar Francisco in celebrating the daily Mass for the Franciscan brothers and IJ sisters. He also celebrates Mass in various parishes including St Joseph (Bukit Timah), St Anthony, and St Mary of the Angels, and gives spiritual direction.
Friar Kenny, a lay friar, is the heart of our community. Jovial and caring, he looks after the maintenance of the friary. He brings joy through his humour and is always ready to listen and support the fraternity in many ways.
Another lay friar, Friar Vernon, serves as the director for the post-novitiate. He is also known as the “Gardener Friar” because he cares deeply for creation and takes loving care of the friary’s beautiful gardens. Living St Francis’ exhortation to love “Sicut Mater” (like a mother), he also prepares meals especially lunch for the friars returning from studies or ministry.
Friar Jorgerson is in his second year of philosophy studies at St Francis Xavier Major Seminary. In addition to his classes, he participates in our in-house Franciscan formation programme, speech classes, and the weekly St Anthony Devotion at the Church of St Mary of the Angels. He also assists with the media ministry.
Friar Marvin made his solemn profession a year ago and is now completing his second year of theology at the seminary. On weekends, he travels to Malaysia for his ministry with the Bahasa Malaysia community at St Joseph Church, Plentong in Johor Bahru. There, he serves through the choir, gives formation sessions, participates in the Basic Ecclesial Community, conduct retreats, and accompanies the youth ministry.
Minister General Massimo Fusarelli, in his letter after the Lay Brothers’ Gathering, described fraternity as a “spiritual ecosystem” where lay and ordained friars live together in complementarity, each bringing their own gift to the community.
Life at Greccio reflects a “spiritual ecosystem” where each vocation has intrinsic value rooted in being rather than function, echoing today’s call to interconnectedness.
The Greccio Friary friars nurture their fraternity through monthly Chapters or Recollections, beginning with reflection on “We Are All Brothers”, deepening their communion and renewing their Franciscan commitment.
During the seminary semester break from 4 June to 18 July, my fellow postulants –
Samuel Bernadi Hartanoeh and Jason Ng – and I went to Indonesia for our Exposure trip. In our six weeks with the Franciscan Friars in Flores, we gained an insight into the lives of the local people and the missionary work of the friars including their application of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC).
In Pagal, we stayed with the friars of the Franciscan Friary for the Postulancy Programmes and immersed ourselves in their eco-pastoral work. The friar, who was our host and guide, oversees the vegetable and animal farms. They grow several kinds of lettuce and chye sim as well as rice. They also rear pigs and goats. What struck us most was how nothing went to waste. Vegetables that cannot be sold are fed to the pigs. Pig manure is collected and converted into biogas, which is used for cooking, reducing dependence on conventional gas. This was a simple yet powerful reminder of how creativity and care for creation can go hand in hand. We also saw how the friars collaborate with the local farmers to grow crops.
In Tentang, we stayed with the friars of St Anthony Friary, who run the Parish of St Francis of Assisi. There we learned about the friars’ efforts in the micro, small and medium economy sectors in their collaboration with the farmers and the youth.
One inspiring project was the production and sale of ground ginger. The farmers harvest different types of ginger, including turmeric and temulawak. The ginger is cut, dried and ground into powder, then packaged for sale in a building that was built by the friars. This simple idea promotes local produce and provides the village with a source of income. While we were there, the friars received halal certification for the sale and consumption of the ginger products. We can testify that the ginger drink is refreshing and delicious, especially after a hard day’s work.
While we learned practical things about farming, sustainability and creative economics, what struck us most was the spirit of the friars and the people. We witnessed the simplicity of their life, their creativity in overcoming challenges, and their strong sense of community and fraternity. This reminded us that being a friar is not only about doing, but also about being present with others and with God. This exposure experience also taught us gratitude – to be grateful for what we have, the food we eat, for clean water, for relationships, and even for challenges that stretch us beyond our comfort zones.
Wereturned to Singapore with full hearts, bringing with us memories of Flores and the amazing example of friars who live justly, and work and care for creation. We hope to carry forward these values in our own formation and future ministry.
Since my Solemn Profession on 17 September 2024, I have been going to Johor Bahru on weekends. While I continue my studies at St Francis Xavier Seminary and remain a member of the Greccio Friary community, as part of my ministry, I serve the Bahasa Malaysia community of St Joseph Church in Johor Bahru.
It has been a life-giving experience to serve this community, most of whom are from Sabah and Sarawak, and I am grateful to Fr Matthew Bun, parish priest of St Joseph Church, Plentong, for welcoming me into his parish. I have been involved with the choir, participated in the Basic Ecclesial Community, held retreats for communion ministers, accompanied the young adult community, and joined in the Parish and Melaka-Johor Diocese Harvest Festival celebration, which is a celebration of culture, nature, humanity and faith as part of integral ecology.
If there is one thing God has invited me to respond to in my ministry this year, it is the ministry of presence. In giving formation, sharing sessions and retreats, I find myself focusing on the importance of being present and deepening our relationship with God. In this digital and demanding age, we need to hear the true voice of God so that we can stay grounded in Him.
This call is not only for the people to whom I minister. It is also an invitation for me. I find myself often sitting with God in the adoration room, saying “Dear Lord, what do You want me to share?”.
What gives me hope in my ministry is seeing that conversations about faith, vocation, family and ministry are still relevant. These deeper conversations are when the promise of Jesus in Matthew 18:20 – “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” – comes alive.
In response to the Malaysian Brothers Gathering in January 2025, I try to be with the St James of the Marches community in Johor Bahru on weekends. I am blessed to spend time with Friar Sixtus Peter, who serves at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Johor, and Friar Claurence Motoyou, who serves at the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
Whether it is joining them for prayers and meals, or accompanying Friar Sixtus for Mass or ministries, these are for me ways of supporting the community and living out the ministry of presence. In all of this, I can hear God’s voice clearly saying, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20).
As I go about my studies and ministry, I am thankful to my mentor, Friar Gerard Victor, for helping me to stay grounded, and reminding me to maintain balance as a friar, between studies, ministry and prayer life.
Editorial Note from the Custody of St. Anthony – Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei
We are pleased to share this joyful news from the OFM Province of San Pedro Bautista, Philippines. Among the seventeen brothers admitted to the novitiate is Br. Maximillian Alexson Anak Michael Keriben, OFM, a member of our Custody. He is currently in the Philippines for his novitiate year with the wider Franciscan community. Let us continue to keep him and all the novices in our prayers.
Friar Maximillian receiving his novitiate habit.
Liliw, Laguna – May 29, 2025 — In a solemn and grace-filled liturgical rite, seventeen young novitiateofficially received into the religious life as novices during the Rite of Initiation at the Juan de Plasencia Novitiate House. The sacred ceremony, conducted during Midday Prayer, was presided over by Br. Lino Gregorio V. Redoblado, OFM, Minister Provincial.
As a visible sign of their commitment, the brothers were vested in the habit of probation, marking their formal entry into the Franciscan Order. With the blessing of the habit, they embraced a life dedicated to prayer, fraternity, and service, following in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi.
Upon the conclusion of the rite, Br. Lino entrusted the newly received novices to the guidance and formation of their novice master, Br. Mark Angelo Vito, OFM, who will oversee their spiritual and communal growth throughout their novitiate year.
The Province rejoices in this momentous occasion and offers fervent prayers that these seventeen brothers may persevere in their vocation, advancing in faith and devotion as they embark on their journey within the consecrated life.
Province of San Pedro Bautista – Philippines
Br. Joery P. Abayon, OFMnov
Br. Ronaldo M. Arevalo, OFMnov
Br. Justine Don R. Cartaño, OFMnov
Br. Jewel Ysmile L De Leon, OFMnov
Br. Julius Cesar C. Macalit, OFMnov
Br. Ralph Harvey A. Malaga, OFMnov
Br. JC C. Quirong, OFMnov
Br. Renz Adrian G. Ronda, OFMnov
Br. Alfiyando Syahnafi, OFMnov
Foundation of St. Francis of Assisi – Myanmar
Br. Charles Ko Ko My Myint, OFMnov
Br. David Pau Sian Muan, OFMnov
Br. John Paul Salai Inngar Kyaw, OFMnov
Br. Pius Salai Zaw Paing, OFMnov
Br. John Thang Kap Tuang, OFMnov
Br. James Thang San Mung, OFMnov
Br. Columban Mung Hkai Yaw, OFMnov
Custody of St Anthony Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei
Br. Maximillian Alexson Anak Michael Keriben, OFMnov
