LATEST NEWS – CUSTODY
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Finding my true vocation
My name is Friar Gerald Tan OFM, and I am one of a handful of lay friars in the Franciscan order in Singapore. In 2020, the year I made my solemn profession of religious vows, I discerned that the Lord was not calling me to the priestly ministry – in other words, not...
Living in unity
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is, when brothers live in unity!” (Ps 133:1) What more can you ask for when Franciscan friars from all over Asia come together and the conversations and care flow so naturally between them? That is what happened when the...
Secular Franciscans in Asia and Oceania gather for fraternity, fellowship and formation
In May, Secular Franciscans from 12 countries gathered in Manila, the Philippines, for the five-day “Formation Course for Asia and Oceania". The 38 Secular Franciscans, 12 Spiritual Assistants and 1 Franciscan Youth hailed from Australia, Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia,...
Experiencing the truth of “the joy of the Lord is my strength”
Jonathan Ng, one of two postulants in the Custody of St Anthony (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei), spent the first three weeks in June on a mission trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He shares his experience with us. My mission trip in Kuala Lumpur from 1 to 21 June was...
Lay Friars from across Asia and Oceania gather in Singapore
In May, the Custody of St Anthony (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei) hosted a regional meeting of Lay Friars within the South Asia, Australia and Oceania Conference (SAAOC). In the Franciscan Order, as in the Church, a baptised person falls under one of two states: Lay...
Friars in Asia and Oceania discuss Franciscan life and mission
It began with a challenge to taste balut. The look on Friar Derrick Yap’s face said it all! He managed the initial encounter. Fr Derrick embraced everything that came during the meeting of the Franciscan Conference of Asia and Oceania (FCAO) in Manila from 7 to 13...
Meeting of hearts and minds
Dearest Family and Friends, Meetings, meetings, meetings. Some of us are in so many meetings. We preside at some and at others we try to participate, the key word being “try”. Sometimes we ask ourselves why we are at these meetings and how we can contribute to the...
Asian Franciscan Formators Training programme launched
“Today the weak link is the pedagogy and not the theology”. This quote from “The Sentiments of the Son: A formation journey in consecrated life” by Amadeo Cencini is so true today. As Cencini says, we struggle with the transmission and reception (pedagogy) of the...
Youth dialogue with the Minister General
On 6 April 2024, members of Fraternitas, the Franciscan youth and young adult ministry, had the privilege of having a conversation with Friar Massimo Fusarelli, Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor. Also present were friars from the General Definitory, the...