Its the time of the year again to give thanks to God for our furry, feathered (and slimy) creature-friends that bring us so much joy and companionship!
Bring your dog, cat, bird, frog, lizard, rabbit, or other beloved and treasured animal-friends for a prayer and blessing session by our Franciscan Friars in Singapore, Kuching, Johor and Penang!
Please refer below for more details.
All are welcome!
Franciscan Animal Blessing at Church of St Mary’s of the Angels, Singapore
Date : Sunday, 2nd October 2022
Time : 3 PM
Venue : Piazza outside main church, Level 3.
Please register HERE to help us with our logistics planning and to keep you updated, if necessary.
It may seem contradictory that receiving the gift of the stigmata would be called love. After all, receiving the stigmata would mean enduring the painful wounds that Christ Himself experienced when He suffered His passion and death. How then can it be called love and a gift?
From the moment Adam and Eve fell, God has been calling us back to Him. In Jesus Christ, the Father’s loving face was revealed to us, enabling us to be adopted as God’s beloved children.
When Christ went through His passion and death, He held nothing back from us. Christ yearned to be united with us in all ways, so He emptied Himself to be born a man and even more, to die on the Cross.
So, we believe sin, evil and death no longer have power over us. God has overcome them for us. Therefore, the mystery of the Cross and the wounds of Christ are the “Gift of Love” for our humanity and salvation.
As we undergo our trials in life, we ought to reunite with Christ. We do not need to fear the crosses in our lives because Christ carries them with us. This closeness to Jesus is His gift of love and it assures us of victory.
In Francis, God found someone who loved Him for Himself. In Francis, God found someone who knew what it meant to love truly. In Francis, we have an example of what it means to be a Christian. Therefore, it has pleased God to bestow upon Francis the “Wounds of His love”.
May we follow the example of Francis and may our hearts burn with love for Christ and His people.
In June, four student friars were sent to Sabah for Mission Exposure. Friars Timothy Fong and Sylvester Singh had a pastoral attachment with Montfort Youth Training Centre (MYTC) in the town of Kinarut, working with the staff, trainees and young adults. Friars Marvin Voo and Julian Chua were assigned to assist the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (FSIC) with their youth apostolate, migrant and parish ministries across Kota Kinabalu, Keningau, and Sandakan. They each share a little of that three-week Mission Exposure experience from 12 June to 1 July.
Friars Timothy Fong and Sylvester Singh in Montfort Youth Training Centre (MYTC) Kinarut, Papar.Friars Marvin Voo and Julian Chua assisting the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (FSIC) across the dioceses of Sandakan, Keningau and Kota Kinabalu.
