Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy

Mother of Silence

A beautiful reflection to share with you:

A Blessed Christmas to you!

God's Angel

Here is a short and sweet prayer written by a beautiful friend, for the sisters:

May God’s angel be at your side

To guard your every step and stride

In daily struggles and constant fights

May God’s angel be your might

May God’s angel be your sight

Amidst the blindness of the night

In your journey to God’s light

May God’s angel be your guide.

Amen.

(copyright, Abigail Goh)

Thanks, Abi!

Buon Natale

Advent

Advent is finally "creeping" in. It has been a long while since I come onto this page--with all the activities going on, plus a dose of laziness and added procrastination.... oh! all the excuses.... I must admit, once there is a break, it is always more difficult to pick up again, for whatever reason. Anyway, I do hope to keep up to these blogs and be more persevering.

I like Advent, yet, many times it is so "mixed up" with all the activities--we tend to focus so much of all the externals, at least for myself, that I forget or take for granted the internal, the means, the path that leads up to Christmas. For us, we began our annual outreach at the mall in the middle of November, then there is the promotion of the daily 365 Days with the Lord and this year, of course, we printed the Pauline Calendar and we want all these to reach the people as soon as possible and as much as possible!

Yet, there is always a deep desire to settle down into the "desert" of my heart. To listen more attentively to the Word of God and to find the oasis amidst the dryness.

Our Congregation has prepared a weekly slide presentation for Advent, beautifully done. So do check it out.

As I surf through the net, I also came across this awesome resources for Advent and even for daily life. Creighton University has done a great job in this, Bravo! I am sure you have a lot of resources for your spiritual life, but no harm trying this one: Creighton University Online Ministries for Advent.

I do hope this Advent will be different from the past, and I am pretty sure it will be, one way or another. Wishing you a Blessed Advent and happy preparation for the way of the Lord!

God's Plan for You

Dopo la XII Assemblea del Sinodo dei Vescovi

Contribution of Sr. Maria Antonieta Bruscato

Superior General of the Daughters of St. Paulto the Synod of Bishopson The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church

Most Holy Father, Reverend Synod Fathers, dear brothers and sisters,

I am deeply grateful to the Lord for the wonderful opportunity to participate in this Synod on the Word of God. I feel accompanied in spirit by all the Daughters of St. Paul, who have always been committed to “preaching the divine Word” in keeping with the example of the Apostle of the Gentiles. The Founder of the Pauline Family, Blessed James Alberione, urged us to disseminate the Bible, especially the Gospel, in every part of the world, saying: “Let us read the Scriptures, because God is their Author. They will show you the path to follow [in spreading] the Editions.” And: “The Eucharist and the Bible form the apostolate of the press. May the two be unseparated and inseparable in your hearts.”

My statement today is in reference to what is affirmed in n. 52 of the Instrumentum Laboris (IL) regarding the service of the Word of God carried out by consecrated persons. Through the centuries, the consecrated life, both masculine and feminine, contemplative and apostolic, has always nourished itself and its mission at the Table of the Word. It could not be otherwise because the religious life, in fact, is called to be prophetic and prophecy springs from attentive listening to God: “Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear” (Is. 50:4). The Table of the Word holds an important place in our personal and community life. It provides us with food for our spirit, as well as with light and strength to help us persevere in following the paths of the Lord. It is the source of our creativity and apostolic audacity. I am convinced that we consecrated persons become disciples of the Master to the extent that we welcome the Word with attentive, docile and prayerful hearts, allowing ourselves to be evangelized by the “surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord” (Phil. 3:8).

To live and work as consecrated persons in today’s post-modern civilization calls for a radical conversion of life: one that gives God and his Word primacy in our lives. What challenge do we face? That is what we are asking ourselves these days as we listen attentively to the statements of the Synod Fathers–input that confirms our conviction that if we are to make progress in this area then it is necessary that the consecrated life not only reaffirm its spiritual commitment to “reading and meditating on the Sacred Books, to ruminating on them daily and making a comparison of life with them so as to carry out a personal and community discernment in view of evangelization” (IL 52), but that it also ensure that Sacred Scripture is the center of our initial and ongoing formation itineraries by enriching them with a systematic study of the Word of God. Even more, we must see to it that more of our members receive specialized training in this field so that the “Bread of the Word” will be broken and shared with the wisdom required for this service.

A member of this Assembly defined the laity as a “sleeping giant.” If the consecrated life, especially its feminine branch, courageously follows the path proposed above, then we, the “silent giant,” will rediscover the prophetic power and significance common to us all, no matter what our charism or mission. And the many forms of our presence, whether in monas-teries or along the streets of the world, will become a living “exegesis” of God’s saving Word and thus respond more effectively to his new appeals to today’s world.

(taken from Paoline)

La Parola di Dio nella vita e nella missione della Chiesa

Beginning of Pauline Year

As Daughters of St. Paul here in Singapore, we joined in the celebration of the beginning of the Year of St. Paul on 29 June 2008. The afternoon began with an hour talk on St. Paul by the known Msgr. Eugene Vaz, who was able to bring St. Paul to a more personal level for those presence. The talk was followed by a Mass with Fr. Cyril Lee and Fr. Louiseau con-celebrating. The evening ended with fellowship and dinner.

Pauline Year

On the night of 28 June the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul marked the beginning of the Year of St. Paul with a ceremony of opening the Church's main door followed by the unveiling of the statue of St. Paul and Eucharistic Celebration by Archbishop Nicholas Chia. At the end of the Mass, His Grace led the congregation to sign the Pledge Book--called "Singapore Catholics Commemorate St. Paul's Year" (of which one pledged to read at least one letter of St. Paul during this Pauline Year and is invited to submit an essay after that.) This book will be presented to the Vatican at the end of the Pauline Year.

Here's a video for the celebration:
Year of St. Paul - Celebrated in St. Peter & Paul Church

Up Close and Personal Afternoon

This afternoon of Up Close and Personal with young women turned up well. 6 young women came, with 4 of them from the University and 2 from our parish, St. Francis of Assisi. Both Sr. Karen and myself did the presentation of introducing them about our Founder, co-foundress, Spirituality, Mission and Community life. They seemed rather contented. Since we had rather limited time, we really do not have much time to share personally, something which we need to take note of in the future. Most of them had requested for more such sessions, so hopefully we will be able to meet again. Thanks for all your prayers.

Who Am I -- Casting Crowns

Day of Recollection

The Day of Recollection went on well yesterday. I am not sure we ever did something similar before in Singapore, but for most of us as vocation promoters, it was a new experience. If some of you remember or know, we had a kind of workshop on Vocation Sunday, where young women came to find out more about religious vocation from the women religious. Well, our team had decided this year that instead of doing this as a one-off thing yearly, we want to have follow-ups together for the young women, as a mean and channel for them to pray together, and get to know each other who are journeying together, and to know of other congregations.

So, yesterday was the first follow-up and Sr. Lucy of the Good Shepherd graciously volunteer to host it. The ambience was great, especially the prayer room. We had sharing in the morning with the theme: Call to Conversion and in the afternoon: Choosing Life. Both the relgious and the participants were opened to share their thoughts and reflections.

We hope that through these similar sessions, young women will find courage and strength together, and feel that they were not alone in the journey...for we are all Companions on the Journey.

Day of Recollection

31 May, the InterCongregation Women Religious is organising a Day of Recollection for Young Women who are discerning their vocation. This is kind of a follow-up session from our first gathering on Vocation Sunday. Back then we have about 12 young women who came. Since this day of prayer is open to all young women, we hope there will be more people attending. Our desire is that through this regular meetings, young women will have more point of entry to know the religious in Singapore and bring to awareness of their own vocation. Please pray for them.

An Afternoon with the Daughters of St. Paul

What's up here in FSP Singapore? Lately, both Sr. Karen and myself are planning to invite young women over to the convent for an afternoon, just to share about us, meaning as Daughters of St. Paul. We realized that small as we are as a country, many people do not know us, even though they might seen us around at the parishes. So, please help to pass the words around.

God, Grant Me the Glory of "Thy Gift"

God, widen my vision so I may see

the afflictions You have sent to me--

Not as a cross too heavy to wear

that weighs me down in gloomy despair--

Not as something to hate and despse

but as a gift of love sent in disguise--

Something to draw me closer to You

to teach me patience and forearance, too--

Something to show me more clearly the way

to serve You and love You more every day--

Something priceless and precious and rare

that will keep me forever safe in Thy care

Aware of the spiritual strength that is mine

if my selfish, small will is lost in Thine!

(Helen Steiner Rice)

Go Light Your World

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Some thoughts on the gifts of the Holy Spirit by Blessed James Alberione:
www.giacomoalberione.blogspot.com

My Redeemer Lives

Someone forwarded this message and powerful video:

"A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?'. The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'.

They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together. One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.' To which, his father said 'Yes' too.

For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever.
The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island. Father and son went on to complete the race together. View this race .......

On the Journey Toward Becoming Friends

Friendships are mysterious. They often begin and end when we least them expect them to. We sometimes become friends with people we are not initially drawn to. Sometimes we don't develop the kind of friendship we desire with someone we are attracted to. Some friendships take a lot of work, while others are as natural as breathing.

Friendship is a gift waiting to be revealed with every person I meet. With just a few people, the gift of covenant relationship will be revealed. With very many people, the gift of friendly waves and weather conversations will unfold. In between are the gifts of healthy working friendships, close lifelong friendships, friendships born in crisis, celebration, a shared passion for coffee, golf, children, faith, travel, et cetera.

Friendships are life-giving when we accept, nurture, and celebrate the particular gift that is present in each. Friendships are draining and difficult when we reject the gift by either not accepting the intimacy offered or trying to make the gift more intimate than it was ever meant to be.

These gifts of friendship are scattered like ripe fruit in the gardens of our lives, waiting to be tasted and enjoyed. Each gift is given by a loving God, who knows what we need and who desires a friendship with every one of us. Therefore, while we may choose our friendships, we do not create the gift of friendship. We can work on our friendships, but we cannot change them into something they are not gifted to be. This is the pain and the joy, the poverty and the incredible freedom we experience on the journey to becoming friends.

written by DOUG WEIBE

Laying Down Your Life for Your Friends

Good Shepherds are willing to lay down their lives for their sheep (see John 10:11). As spiritual leaders walking in the footsteps of Jesus, we are called to lay down our lives for our people. This laying down might in special circumstances mean dying for others. But it means first of all making our own lives - our sorrows and joys, our despair and hope, our loneliness and experience of intimacy - available to others as sources of new life.

One of the greatest gifts we can give others is ourselves. We offer consolation and comfort, especially in moments of crisis, when we say: "Do not be afraid, I know what you are living and I am living it with you. You are not alone." Thus we become Christ-like shepherds.

(Henri Nouwen)

Vocation Sunday

New Video

Gift of Baptism

Today is a silent and yet special day for me. 17 years ago, on this date, I received the gift of baptism at the Church of St. Bernadette, and back then was the Easter Vigil. 17 years seem long, yet, I still feel as if I am at the beginning, learning more about the faith, about Jesus, about God, about the Church.... This reminds me of the teaching of our founder, Blessed James Alberione, the attitude of studiosita--to learn from all. We will never finish our learning, and I agree this is the beauty of being human. Till the day we die, we continue to learn from everything.

Today, I am thankful for all the people who in one way or another, help in the growth of my faith--the sponsors, my friends, my god-mother, my sisters in the congregation, particularly my formators and those who journey with me. They have been the one to help me see and experience the love of God till this day. Without them, I would not have reach where I am today. A very big Thank You.

Judas

No-one understands me:
Sometimes something forces me to do things,
to go against his teaching,
to act without love.
Afterwards I hate myself.
I'm not normal like the others.
I know I am an oddity,
and sometimes it's as though
I'm programmed to do bad things.
Even so, I never dreamt that I
could be so wicked, so full of sin, so evil
as to betray the only one who loved me,
the only one I loved: Jesus.

I was greedy for the money, of course.
I had always been poor
and I had never owned
thirty pieces of silver.
It seemed beautiful to me then,
that blood money.
But worse than the money was the kiss,
hideous, horrible hypocrisy!
How could he bear it so calmly,
looking at me with pity?

I hadn't given any thought
to what would happen.
I watched and listened steathily,
the horror grew
and I was powerless to stop it,
I who had set it all in motion.

When I saw him hanging there,
my Jesus, nailed to a cross
I cried to the Father,
'Let us change places.
Let him come down
and nail me there to die'.
But nothing happened.

I knew I was only fit for hell,
beyong forgiveness,
worth absolutely nothing.
It was time to end my useless life
my pitiful existence.
So I took a rope
and went to find a tree.

(taken from Lent (for the not-so-holy) by Anthea Dove, Columba Press, 2006)

The Pharisee

In today's gospel, Jesus told us the parable about the Pharisee and the Tax collector in Luke 18:9-14. It never struck me as before, that the Pharisee actually prayed to himself. Then I came across this beautiful words from the perspective of the Pharisee:

It was a revelation.
It happened after I had prayed.
I was leaving the temple
and I happened to glance across
at that wretched tax-collector.
It was just the look on his face.
He wasn't wretched after all.
He was trule at peace.
I saw that he was blessed
in a way I had never been.
I knew I had missed something absolutely vital!
So I went back into the temple.
I said nothing.
I simply stood in the presence of our God
until it slowly dawned on me,
the truth about myself:
my pride, my contempt, my self-righteousness.
I knew then that I was a sinner,
and I asked the Lord for mercy.

I stayed a long time in the temple,
and when I walked away,
I knew there was just a chance
that one day my face too
might be like that tax-collector's,
glowing with peacefulness
and quiet happiness.

(from Lent (for the not-so-holy) by Anthea Dove)

Thank you, John Paul II

Here it is, the English translation of Grazie, Giovanni Paolo II. Enjoy!

Forgiveness

In today's gospel, Peter ask Jesus about forgiveness, and Jesus told us through him that we must forgive endlessly. I would like to share what our parish priest quoted at the end of his homily today:

The one who does not forgive, breaks the bridge to which he/she must cross, to reach heaven. For everyone needs forgiveness.

Parenting

Last weekend, I was at a parish doing having our media outreach and interesting I witnessed 2 scenes of "parenting".

Halfway during a Mass, a father suddenly walked out of the Church angrily, carrying his 3-year old boy. He was crying in fear and covering his father's mouth, saying something like "no, don't do it, no...." As they reached a grass patch behind some parked cars, I could heard some beatings and the father practically "roared" (he shouted so loud that his voice went almost coarsed) at the boy: you purposedly do this to me, why are you doing this? I treated you nicely, but you are not treating me the same... you purposedly do this, .... he went on repeating similar lines. After this came a silent and perhaps they were having a "father and son" talk. After quite some time, both of them went back towards the Church and stayed at the entrance. Just then the mother, pregnant, came out and carried the boy, filled with pity and love.

As I was watching them, out came another father and son. This time, the little boy, about the same age as the other, lowered his head, seemed to be sad, sorry and guilty but without a word. The father whispered to him with a serious look, but from a distance, I could tell that the little boy must have did something wrong and was punished by standing aside. The father was also standing near him.

2 misbehaved boys in the Church, 2 different ways of treatment. One was dwelt with in a rage, the other in silence. I do not want to judge the action of the first father, even though I felt that the way he vent his anger on the child was not appropriate. He might be undergoing his own problem but channel it to this poor child. Yet, I can't help thinking--how would these 2 children turned out to be in the near future? How can we tell? Who has the better approach in dealing with their children? Parenting is definitely not an easy task. I pray that these 2 children will grow up to be good, loving and responsible young men for others.

Stations of the Cross

Time flies, we are almost midway into Lent (soon will be 3rd Sunday). Many websites offer valuable resources for making the Stations of the Cross, lenten observances, reflections...etc. One of the sites I would recommend is Pray-as-you-go. This is a website hosts by the Jesuits and it offers audio readings and reflections daily. You can download it onto your computer, ipod, mp3 players so that while you are in the MRT (Metro in certain countries), bus, train, or even while driving, you can spend some 5 to 10 minutes for meditations and reflections. This is great for those of us who are always on the go and have little time to really sit down for quite time. For the lenten seasons, you can even download 10 stations of the cross, with beautiful paintings of Caravaggio accompanying it. Do try this website: http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/ or
http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/stations.htm for the stations.

New video dedicated to Venerable Tecla Merlo

Here's a video I want to share with you dedicated to the co-foundress of the Daughters of St. Paul, Venerable Tecla Merlo. It was done by our Italian sister, Sr. Pina. Regret to say, it is only in Italian, but just by the graphics and technical design, it is spectacular.

Presence

In my faith journey, sometimes I feel God has different ways of giving me reminders, consolations and assurance. A while ago, as usual, I made a very special prayer intention. A couple of days later, I received a call and true enough, my prayers was answered. I jumped with joy and right after that, as I look out of the window, I saw this:

Immediately, I sensed the Lord assuring me of His love, presence and also a reminder of His promise. He is always there for those who believes, for those who trusts. I was overcome with joy and love. Yes, especially in moments of darkness, God knows when to give a glimpse of light and hope.

The Gift of Friendship

Friendship is one of the greatest gifts a human being can receive. It is a bond beyond common goals, common interests, or common histories. It is a bond stronger than sexual union can create, deeper than a shared fate can solidify, and even more intimate than the bonds of marriage or community. Friendship is being with the other in joy and sorrow, even when we cannot increase the joy or decrease the sorrow. It is a unity of souls that gives nobility and sincerity to love. Friendship makes all of life shine brightly. Blessed are those who lay down their lives for their friends.

Henri Nouwen

New Post

The New Year has just begun and seems I am behind time again. Everything seems to have a new beginning and even in some of our apostolic activities. So, what's up?

Just last weekend, we had our first Journey Within Session with young women who seek to discern for the vocation in life. 3 lovely young women attended and looking forward to a journey together for the next few months. We had the grace of having Sr. Wendy who just came back from States. So, she shared with us her vocational story which I believed must have touched the young women in different ways. We ended with an hour of adoration with the community and fellowship.

This week, I am into planning some vocational programs and plans for re-designing the website. I felt like helpless since I am not so technologically creative and artistic. Let's hope that something will turn up then.