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.