Our identities are important to us. Who we are often influences what we do. We even take steps to showcase our identities sometimes - wearing special clothes/accessories (Liverpool jersey at a football match, anyone?), memorising mottos, or behaving in a certain way. Growing up, being a "gamer” was an important part of my identity. This "gamer" identity manifested itself through [...]
We hear in the Old Testament how the prophet Zephaniah tells the Jews to seek integrity, humility and to take refuge in God. In our comings and goings, we are consumed by all things external and do not notice that our Father is in our midst and gently prompting and waiting for our response. If we believe what is proclaimed [...]
An argument that is often brought up against Catholics praying the rosary, or any chaplet devotion is, why are you repeating yourself? Doesn’t Scripture, and Jesus say, “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.” (Matthew 6:7) In some translations “many words” are worded, “because of their vain [...]
Spiritual darkness occurs when there is an absence of God. God always calls us to repentance. Repentance involves letting go of all that leads to darkness - which is of the kingdom of the enemy, and moving to the light where God is. We live in a time of confusion and growing darkness but unlike the people of Isaiah’s time [...]
Across the world, according to a recent statistical study released by the Vatican (Segreteria di Stato Vaticano 2022; 2019), the number of Catholics world-wide increased from an approximate 16 million in 2020, to 1.36 billion in 2022. While about 48% of the world’s Catholics are situated at the Americas, the Catholic Church grew the most rapidly in Africa, with a [...]
Encounter Chinese New Year EC Timings CNY EVE - 21 Jan no sunset mass CNY DAY 1 - 22 Jan usual Sunday EC timings CNY DAY 2 - 23 Jan Public Holiday EC @ 7.30am Formation Intro to Sacrament Dates: Mondays 9, 16, 30 Jan 2023 Time: 8pm - 10pm Venue: [...]
It may be shocking to hear this, but for many Catholics, the Bible is an ornamental piece, placed on the family altar, never read, and collecting dust. A large part of this is that Catholics take for granted that they will eventually at some point in time during the Eucharistic Celebration, hear the Word of God being proclaimed to them. [...]
What shall we ponder about servant leadership? In the first reading, prophet Isaiah spoke about how God our Father had made him to be his servant so that he will be light to the nations. He wrote, “he who formed me in the womb to be his servant”. God knew right from the beginning, even before Isaiah was born, that [...]
In Singapore, the seasons shift as abruptly as the monsoon rains. One day it is Christmas Day on the 25th with the supermarkets playing canticles of joy, jolly jingles, and cheery Christmas carols, when it is suddenly the 26th and the clamour of gongs and cymbals clashing a dissonant chord, begin to pulsate out of all plausible manner of retail [...]
Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. The first thing that came to mind was, this must have been a real “ah ha moment” for the wise people from the east when they discovered child Jesus. The fact of finding Jesus must have brought immense joy and satisfaction for the magi who found him. In the [...]
