Photo taken during community recollection at MacRitchie Reservoir.
A new chapter has begun for four young men. In a simple rite held during Morning Prayer and Mass on 11 January 2025 in the chapel of St Anthony Friary, Singapore, they were received into the Postulancy Formation Programme of the Custody of St Anthony Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei.
The Postulancy programme is a vital part of the initial formation process during which candidates receive special accompaniment from the Postulant Master and the fraternity as they seek to answer the call to follow Christ in the spirit of St Francis of Assisi.
Each postulant brings a unique journey of faith to this new chapter of their lives.
Mark Lee, from St Louis, Kluang, Johor, is the second of three children. Faith has always been central to his life, shaping his desire to serve God and others. Before joining the Postulancy, he was a lecturer and was active in his parish, where he experienced the joy of walking with others in their spiritual journeys.
Jason Ng, an only child, grew up in the Church of St Mary of the Angels, where he was in the choir for many years. Before joining the Franciscans, he was a Laboratory Executive in a research lab. His vocation was shaped by his encounters with the friars, as well as his involvement in Fraternitas and Franciscan Young Adults, which deepened his love for the Franciscan way of life.
From St Joseph Church (Bukit Timah) comes Daniel Frances. He is from a family of five and is passionate about food, travelling, and caring for animals and plants. Before joining the friars, he was a social worker assisting families facing challenges. Seeing the joy of the friars in their service to others inspired him to explore Franciscan life more deeply.
Samuel Tan moved to Singapore from Bandung, Indonesia at 16, and worked in the financial industry before joining the Postulancy programme. He has a deep love for nature, through which he experiences God’s greatness—much like St Francis in the Canticle of the Sun. The strong sense of fraternity within the Franciscan community and St Francis’ deep love for peace drew him to this vocation, with the hope of becoming a channel of God’s peace to others.
Guided by their formators (Cosmas Francis and myself), Mark, Jason, Daniel, and Samuel have embarked on a journey of formation, self-discovery, and deepening their baptismal commitment. Through personal and communal prayer, spiritual readings, development programmes, and seminary studies, they will be given the tools to embrace and embody the Franciscan values of fraternity and minority.
As they take these first steps, let us surround them with our prayers and ask the Lord to bless and guide them in their discernment. May their witness inspire others to listen to God’s voice and respond with courageous and generous hearts.
Friar Aiden Peter OFM
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