Francis of Assisi, 1226–2026: eight hundredth anniversary of the death of St Francis. In contemporary society, we rarely think about death, not only because it reminds us that we are limited creatures, but also because it exposes the false security we get from...

On the holy night of Christmas in 1223, the quiet valley of Greccio became another Bethlehem. Francis of Assisi, with burning love for the Lord made flesh, desired to "make memory of that Child born in Bethlehem", to see with his own eyes the humility of God lying in...

For the Christian, what is the singular event that changed history or rather, reality itself?  The event that made us who we are – believers in the Lord? One can argue that it is the Resurrection of Jesus. In fact, had the resurrection not taken place, Jesus...

I am no scholar. I always feel embarrassed when I am called “an expert in Clare” by my brothers. Yet I also feel honoured. After all, I only have a diploma in Franciscan Studies and Spirituality from the Franciscan Study Centre in Kent, England. Ironically though that...

As we draw closer to the Feast of St Anthony of Padua on 13 June, we are invited to enter more deeply into his spirituality, and to journey with him in prayer and reflection. A famous line from his early preaching is “Give yourself wholly to God, who gave Himself...

The Stations of the Cross, or the Way of the Cross, is a familiar Lenten practice for many Catholics, with the stations prominently displayed in churches worldwide. At the Church of St Mary of the Angels in Bukit Batok, the stations are uniquely situated outdoors,...

As the new year begins, I’ve noticed that many people plan their holidays early. These breaks help them to rest, reconnect, and spend intentional time alone or with loved ones. Similarly, we need time apart for our spiritual lives. Retreats offer us the opportunity to...

This Advent, as we approach the Year of Jubilee as pilgrims of Hope, we might consider making the period a fast of joy.  We would do this not merely as a penitential act for the expiation of our past sins, but to express our hopeful hunger for a better reality,...