Thirty years ago, on 16 May, the Custody of St Anthony (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei) was canonically erected, dependent upon the Province of the Holy Spirit (Australia). We had two Singaporean Solemnly Professed friars (Friars Michael Goh and John Paul Tan), Friar Phillip Miscamble was our first Custos, and we were only in Singapore.
Decree on the Official Establishment of the Custody of St Anthony (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei)
Fast forward to 2021, I am the third “local” Custos after Friars Michael D’Cruz and John Wong, and we are now also in Malaysia (Kuching, Johor and Penang) running parishes, collaborating with the dioceses and immersing ourselves in the lives of God’s people in these places. In recent years, many of our vocations have come from Sabah, adding to the colour and tone of our Custody as our earlier vocations were from Singapore, Peninsula Malaysia and Sarawak. In fact, we celebrated on 16 April the Solemn Profession of two Sabahan friars.
Still, from time to time, I find myself asking two questions – Where did we come from and where are we going? We need to look at history to ground our purpose and see our historical trajectory in the bigger scheme of things, to take stock of the present, and set about “scrutinising the signs of the times” (Gaudium et Spes, 4). In this way, the friars can be relevant and authentic, creative and faithful at the same time.
To be faithful to the founding vision of the Franciscan presence in Singapore, we first need to enter the mind and heart of an Italian Franciscan Friar Gabriele Allegra, who was beatified in 2012.
Blessed Grabriele Allegra
It is because of Blessed Allegra that the first friar came to Singapore in 1957. While studying Missiology and Theology in Rome in the 1920s, his heart was stirred to bring Christianity to the Chinese people. Learning that there was no complete Chinese translation of the bible, his heart was moved to translate the bible into Chinese from the original Hebrew and Greek texts. The Studium Biblicum translation is considered by many to be thedefinitive Chinese Catholic Bible.
When communist ideology began gathering influence in South-east Asia in the 1950s, he proposed to Propaganda Fide (now, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples) that a sociological centre be set up in Singapore to offer the Catholic Church’s Social Teachings as an alternative to communism. Approval of the centre resulted in an international team of friars coming to make this Studium Sociologicum (社會學硏 究社), later located at Jurong Road 83⁄4 mile, a reality. Blessed Allegra himself headed the social institute for three years, from 1961 to 1963.
What becomes of this dream now? How do we keep this dream that has been handed on to us alive and burning?
– Friar Derrick
Back to basics, I would say. Back to what the Franciscan Friars stand for – Fraternity and Minority. Being the Order of Friars Minor. Being a brother to all and not just that, but a lesser brother, one who is humble and poor, who never lords over others, who is subject to all creatures as St Francis exhorted us to be.
We have spread our missionary wings these several years, while our leadership has become “local”. Reading the signs of these COVID times, could we be invited to be more rooted in our spirituality and intentionality, to grow deeper in our relationships with self, fraternity and God?
I proposed to the friars that, during this year, we mull on building a culture of care and trust within our fraternity and focus on relationship especially where there is historical baggage. To dare to risk anew with the grace of the Holy Spirit and to offer mercy even when the brother never asked for it (cf. Francis’ Letter to a Minister). Only when our fraternities are steeped in God and mutual care and trust can we truly be fraternities- in-mission. This process isn’t as clear cut as setting up a new mission centre but it is part of the dream shared by our Lord, St Francis and the many other Christian missionaries of love.
Friar Cosmas Francis and Friar Gerald Terence will make their Solemn Profession of Religious Vows at the Church of St Mary of the Angels on April 16.
They share what making their Solemn Profession of Vows, after years of discernment and formation, means to them, and their hopes for the future.
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What does your Solemn Profession of Vows mean to you?
Gerald: My Solemn Profession of Vows is truly my heartfelt response to God. “My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready.” It reminds me of the gift of my life and the giving of my heart. And this Solemn Profession of Vows is my daily invitation to die to myself, to take up the cross and to follow Christ.
Cosmas: Solemn Profession for me is a sign and an expression of my love for God who first loved me for what I am. I want to give over my life completely into the mysterious work of God through the identity of the Franciscan, and for the church.
What do you hope to achieve in the long term as a friar?
Gerald: I hope that I will continue to embrace my true self, my shadow, my struggles, and know that by the grace of God and the support and unconditional love from all of you, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). I will breathe in my courage and exhale my fear.
Cosmas:I have experienced many times the mercy and love of God in my shortcomings and weaknesses. I hope that I can express this love of God through deeds and words for the good of all. I encourage everyone to never get tired of getting closer to God despite the obstacles and challenges in daily life.
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The taking of solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in the Franciscan way of life marks the beginning of full, lifelong membership in the Order of Friars Minor. After Solemn Profession, friars seeking ministerial priesthood prepare themselves for the Sacrament of Ordination to Diaconate followed by Priesthood. Friars who seek to remain as lay brothers engage themselves in ministries for which they are gifted and trained to serve the Church and the World.
Do join in the Solemn Profession Mass celebration of Friars Cosmas and Gerald via our YouTube channel on: http://bit.ly/OFMSP2021.
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2 is also World Day for Consecrated Life, when those in consecrated life are invited to reflect on how they can be the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples.
We, the Franciscan Friars of the Custody of St Anthony (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei) would like to take this opportunity to share with you who we are and what we do.
We ask for your prayers as we continue to discern how we can support you in living in the light of Christ as the pandemic continues and beyond.
May the powerful intercession of St Anthony protect us and guide our way to Jesus!
World Day of Consecrated Life – The Order of Friars Minor
Before friars from the two communities in Singapore, Brothers Julian Chua, Sylvester Singh and Timothy Fong were received into the novitiate, and given their habit of probation. Custos FriarDerrick Yap presided at the ceremony and celebration held at Greccio Friary on 9 January.
During the liturgy, when they were asked what their intentions were, all three responded with the request
“to be admitted to your way of life, that we may be tested and learn how to take on our shoulders the yoke of the Lord in love and joy”.
They were then called to sign the Book of Life.
Responding to the question by Custos Derrick when asked, “What do you want of us?”.
Friar Derrick told the novices, “As you begin your journey to true joy in your daily life, invite St Francis to walk with you. Ask him to be your companion on this journey. Do take time to recall the moments when you encountered Christ, and allow that experience to encourage you in your moments of difficulties. Like St Francis and St Anthony, we are called to follow Christ. Doing so requires us to take to heart the teachings of Jesus and imitate His example, which may involve letting go of whatever prevents us from being free to follow Him.
“Of course, this is easier said than done as we are often weighed down by the burdens and challenges of life, and our human tendencies often get the better of us. However, a new year offers us fresh hope and the promise of new beginnings. The question I humbly invite you to reflect on is ‘As you excited to be a Franciscan Friar?’”
Novice Master and a friar-witness putting the Habit of Probation on the new novices.
While the focus was on the novices, Friar Derrick reminded the friars gathered of their own profession and commitment to the Franciscan life and vocation. “We ought to be fully invested in our relationship with Christ and in our prayer life. Only then can we see the fruits of our discipleships. Together as one brotherhood under the one fatherhood of God, let us support one another with joy in our earthly pilgrimage with Christ at the centre of our lives. Let us also offer our Lord our thanks and gratitude for the privilege of belonging to Him alone and for the opportunity to bear witness to our love for Him in our calling.”
The Custody of St Anthony (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei) turns 30 this year. A lot has changed in those three decades. When the Custody was formed in 1991, there was just one parish community and one formation house in Singapore. Most its friars were in initial formation and its ministries were dependent on missionaries.
Today, there are three parish communities and two formation houses in three dioceses. There are 40 friars, 32 of whom are Solemnly Professed and in full-time ministries. Most of them are from Malaysia and Singapore.
Today, even those who do not know the Franciscan Friars know when they see the customary brown hooded habit that the man wearing it is a friar.
The history of the Franciscan Friars in Singapore, however, dates much further back than 1991. The first friars arrived in Singapore from Europe and China in 1957. These missionaries from the Catholic religious order founded by St Francis of Assisi more than 800 years ago were, as their contemporary brothers are today, dedicated to restoring God’s church through three main objectives – witnessing by living as brothers, boldly proclaiming the Gospel to the world, and showing the world that God can be encountered in every person and every created thing.
Objective 1: Witnessing by living as brothers
Franciscans serve together in their corporate ministries in support of the greater Franciscan family. They engage in inter-faith and ecumenical dialogue, recognising all of creation as one family while upholding justice and peace. The friars also foster individual and communal lives of prayer and devotion.
Objective 2: Boldly proclaiming the Gospel to the world
The Franciscan Friars strive to communicate the loving face of a God who became one with humanity. Much is invested in formation and education not only of friars, but also of the people they serve, reaching out to those who have not yet encountered God as the Good News. The friars recognise that God’s people can be found in the most unexpected and inaccessible of places, and will do and use what is needed to proclaim the Gospel.
Objective 3: Showing the world that God can be encountered in every person and every created thing
In every person and every created thing, there is innate goodness and inherent beauty. Believing that God can be encountered through this goodness and beauty as well as in the simple things in life, the Franciscan Friars celebrate simplicity and beauty, providing liturgies and settings that enhance the experience of prayer, contemplation and community.
In 1958, a year after they arrived, the friars constructed St Anthony Friary – with its adjoining chapel building – along Old Jurong Road. It was established as a sociological centre for translating the Church’s social teachings into Chinese as a tool to counter communist propaganda. It was also a base for apostolic outreach to the entire Jurong area up to Tuas village. The friars taught catechetical courses, assisted at the Catholic Chinese Central Bureau, lived and worked with the students and teachers in the largely underdeveloped western Jurong area, and taught Christian philosophy at the newly-founded Nanyang University.
In 1970, the friars’ chapel was converted into a parish church and christened the Church of St Mary of the Angels.
The next big local milestone took place 17 years later. In 1987, Friar Michael Goh become the first local friar to be Solemnly Professed. A year later, Friar John-Paul Tan became the first local friar to be ordained a priest.
Then in 1991, the Custody of St Anthony of Padua (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei) was formed, with Friar Phillip Miscamble from Australia as the first Custos. Between 1996 and 2002, the friars ran the Franciscan Retreat Centre in Jurong West while in 1999, a new community and parish ministry was set up in Kuching, Sarawak.
The Franciscans continued to establish HDB-based communities in Bukit Batok and Hougang, Singapore, before a new Franciscan complex that included the Church of St Mary of the Angels was inaugurated in Bukit Batok in 2004. In 2008, another new community and parish ministry was formed in Malaysia, this time in the Diocese of Melaka-Johor.
For many years, friars from Australia, United States, Germany, India and Sri Lanka had been missioned to serve in the Custody. However, in more recent times, Singaporean and Malaysian friars have been sent to serve in full-time ministries and missions overseas.
With the Custody’s commitment to ongoing formation in service of the Order and local Church, some Solemn Professed Friars have been sent overseas for further studies in fields such as scripture, theology, liturgy, canon law, formator’s training, counselling and spiritual direction. In addition, the Initial Formation programme in Singapore has included students from Indonesia, Korea, China, East Timor, Australia and New Zealand.
The ministries have expanded considerably and now include parish, formation, columbarium, chaplaincies in schools, prisons, migrants and minority ethnic/language groups, persons with disabilities, prayer sessions, talks, retreats and spiritual direction, and inter-faith and ecumenical dialogue.
In the next few years, the Custody of St Anthony hopes to consolidate its presence and commitment to the service of the local Church in Singapore, Sarawak, Johor and Penang; to engage in formation at all levels – pastoral care of vocations, Initial and Ongoing Formation; and to continue to focus on mission and evangelisation.
May God guide us in our endeavours to be the light of Christ to all peoples.
Pernahkah kamu mendengar kisah pergelutan Yakub dengan Tuhan dari Alkitab? Pernah mengalami pergelutan dalam hidup kamu sendiri? Dengarkan perkongsian Friar Marvin Voo, OFM mengenai kisah hidupnya yang berkait rapat dengan kisah Nabi Yakub di Kejadian 32:22-30.
