Church welcomes permanent deacon SINGAPORE – For many years, Catholics here have been advocating the idea of having permanent deacons to help our local priests with their overwhelming workload.Today, the Singapore Archdiocese has a permanent deacon.Deacon Clement Chen (right), 57, is a Singapore citizen who migrated to the U.S. in 1996. Together with his wife, Gladys, he was actively involved in...
Youths schooled to be witnesses for Christ School of Witness graduates pose for a photo with Father Albert Ng who regularly celebrates Mass for them. Photo courtesy of the Catholic Archdiocesan Youth CentreSINGAPORE – Sixteen local Catholic youths and two from overseas attended the 2nd School of Witness (SOW) held from Jan 6 to Feb 10 at the Catholic Archdiocesan Youth Centre.The six-week school helped the...
Catholics learn of modern-day slavery Dr Sallie Yea (inset) speaking to the participants on the definition of human trafficking. Photos by Darren BoonSINGAPORE – About 20 people from the Jesuit Refugee Services, Roman Catholic Prison Ministry, and the Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, attended a talk at Caritas Singapore on modern-day slavery on Feb 26.The...
All about permanent deacons SINGAPORE – In the Roman Catholic Church, a deacon is an ordained minister. Like the ordination of priests and bishops, a deacon is one who has received the Sacrament of Holy Orders.The word “deacon” comes from the Greek word for ‘service’ – diakonia. While it would not be incorrect to say that a deacon is a servant, the present-day usage of the term...
They came, they saw, they converted Photos by Darren Boon, Henry Seah & Merdrey ChewSome elect came in search of Christ and have found Him through the seeds of the faith sown by their family, colleagues or friends. They share with Darren Boon their faith journey, why they chose to embrace Christ and what they look forward to this EasterWHEN I WAS a kid, the Church of the Holy Family was my...
Morning Star Commemorates 10 years of service to community THIS YEAR, Morning Star Community Services commemorates our 10th anniversary.It all began as a vision to bring about happier, less stressful families. Families who invest in time with each other, rather than spend time chasing after a pot of gold.As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we look back fondly at the decade behind us, and look forward fervently to more...
Church welcomes 1,247 catechumens and candidates in Rite of Election Archbishop Nicholas Chia receives the Book of Elect from Father Erbin Fernandez. Photo by Darren BoonSINGAPORE – As Catholics go through Lent to prepare for Easter, 1,247 non-Catholics have been preparing themselves to received the Sacraments of Initiation for a year or more.The past two weekends saw the Rite of Election held Feb 20 at Church of Divine Mercy for...
Come experience an epiphany of beauty (Top) Featured works of the participants. (Above) Amateur artists bare their souls through art at the Heartspace Open Studio at Church of St. Mary of the Angels. Photos provided by HeartspaceSINGAPORE – Each Saturday, a small group of art lovers gathers in the parish of St. Mary of the Angels open studio to spend a few hours painting, drawing, sharing, and...
Parish Reconciliation Service City District Church of St Alphonsus (Novena Church): Fri, 19 March. 8.00 pm Church of Sts Peter & Paul: Mon, 22 March. 8.00 pm Sat, 27 March (M) 1.30 pm Church of St Bernadette: Tue, 23 March. 8.00 pm Church of St Michael: Wed, 24 March. 8.00 pm Church of St Teresa: Thu, 25 March. 8.00 pm Church of Our Lady Of Lourdes: Fri, 26 March. 8.00 pm Sun,...
Why go for confession during Lent? Many Catholics go for the Sacrament of Reconciliation only twice in a year – during Advent and during Lent. But is the sacrament more than just about confessing our sins? Joyce Gan finds outWHILE IT IS not unusual to hear that the Sacrament of Reconciliation celebrated during Lent is an obligatory one for a Catholic, Father Ignatius Huan (inset) corrects, what a...
SVDP kicks off post-Confirmation Youth Alpha Church of St. Vincent De Paul Youth Alpha Coordinator Cecilia Fransis talks to the partipants on how to read the bible. Photos by Darren BoonSINGAPORE – The parish of St. Vincent de Paul has started the Youth Alpha programme to engage its post-Confirmation youths. It began Jan 9 and is held every Saturday evening. About 20 youths have registered for the course.A...
A restorer of statues When Father John Chua, OCD, was asked to reattach a statue figurine’s broken finger, little did he realise it would end up taking nine months to complete. In conversation with Darren Boon, he tells of how he uses his gift in art for the glory of GodKNOWING FATHER JOHN CHUA’S interest in painting and restoring statues, the parish of the Holy Family asked him for a...
Music makes the people come together (Top) Musicians of the Gurmat Sangeet Academy. (Below), Father Cyprian Consiglio.SINGAPORE – While strumming his acoustic guitar, a Camaldolese monk, with his rich voice, led about 200 people in singing “Bismillah…Bismillah…ir-Rahman ir-Rahim…Bismillah” which means “In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate”.On Feb 19 at Church of St. Mary...