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 [...]
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 [...]
Scripture renders very few occasions where it is recorded that Mother Mary spoke. From the 27 books in the New Testament, only 2 of these books report the words that came from Mother Mary. Her presence speaks louder than the words that she says, and this tells us of her role in accompanying Jesus in His ministry - how the [...]
Mary treasured all these things in Her Heart On the first Christmas night, Mary had visitors she did not expect. These were the lowly shepherds who proceeded to share with her the revelation that had been given to them by the angels. God our Father made the proclamation through the angels to the simple shepherds. Even as she was joyful [...]
Amidst the news that Christ the Messiah, the newborn king of the Jews has arrived, there is certainly a lot of excited chatter. Surrounding the birth of Jesus are noise and clamour – the busy-ness of the census dictated by Caesar Augustus – thousands were making their way back to their hometowns; Herod could not stop talking as he tried [...]
Christmas is the promise made good - a promise that God our Father made to Adam and Eve. In Genesis 3:15, the Lord God said to the serpent, the devil,’ I will make you enemies of each other; you and the woman, your offspring her offspring. It will crush your head and you will strike its heel.’ The offspring of [...]
Matthew 1: 18 – 24: “… Do not be afraid…” “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel” which means “God is with us” Luke: 1 – 38: “I am the handmade of the Lord, may it be done to me according to Your Word” Mary’s full obedience [...]
