DARYL

haha this is dedicated to the person who keeps asking me to blog here :)..

IT'S DARYL'S 26TH BIRTHDAY TODAY!

This very day, I'd like to present him a birthday prayer:

"Look with favour, we pray, on your child, Daryl, as he begins another year. Grant that he may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen his trust in your goodness all the days of his life. We ask this prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

GOD BLESS YOU WHATEVERLY:)!!!!

A random post

Warning: Random post ahead. Read with caution.

On my way to tuition today, a thought came to my mind about the Catholic church and the Catholics that I see and then, I realised how thankful I am to be in this close community of God-fearing and God-loving people, who will always yank me to reality from my little space I like to crouch in.

I have gotten to know a couple of friends on exchange here in Singapore over the past few months, some who have already returned to their own country, and many times when the topic of religion is brought to the dinner table, they never fail to ask me the same question.

"How do you know the God you believe in is a true God? If He is, why can't He just remove the pain and suffering from all the people in the third world country? Why must there be killings and wars?"

Having to explain to them that there is a fine distinction between human-willed actions and God-invoking actions, they still don't get it. I tried not to get frustrated (otherwise they'll start thinking, Christians can never explain properly and they only want to force others to agree - which isn't even ME in the first place) with them and their lack of understanding, sometimes even brushing the issue aside so I don't have to deal with it. I felt I didn't have enough capacity in me to reach out to these people, to get them to understand that there are certain things that God puts in place for us and sometimes, we humans just decide to wreck everything because WE are just being imbeciles (sometimes, we are. We have our moments!)

Most of them whom I've spoken to have left the church, Catholic or protestant, and felt that they could lead their lives on their own without guidance from the One above. Agnostic, I'd call them, believers of the Risen One yet do not fully embrace the totality of what they believe.

Recently, I got myself acquainted with two Spanish guys who stay in my hall and interesting enough, they are Catholics as well. My first Catholic friends who aren't from Singapore. One of them belongs to the Jesuits in Madrid and enjoys working with the ministry and the other is a believer of the faith but haven't been going to church because he doesn't agree with some of the rules that are in place. Since they arrived in Singapore, they have yet to attend mass. I suspect they don't know the nearest Catholic church to school but at the same time, I felt there were reasons behind their reluctance for going to mass.

I spoke to the one who hasn't been to church in a while and told him that if he liked, he could come along with me for mass in CTK. To which he responded,

"I know I am a Catholic but I cannot agree with what the Catholic church says. I cannot go for mass because I can't even bring myself to say the verses which we're made to recite. I can't even sing the hymns because I'll feel like a hypocrite. I'd like to go with you one day but I won't go for communion."

One can only wonder: do we respect these people for their honesty? I am thoroughly impressed that he has so much reverance for the church, in the sense that he doesn't want to be a hypocrite if he should attend mass - he wants to be there in spirit and in heart. An embracement of totality? How many of us can say for certain that there are certain Sundays when we attend mass without our spirits or hearts there? We're just there because we KNOW we have to be there. But it's equivalent to putting an empty shell (with the opening to the ground) near a hermit crab that's in need of a home. God's trying to crawl in but we're not making ourselves available, especially during mass.

I don't know what I should say to them. It brings me back to the days when I was in doubt (and maybe even now). Which led to this post. If I didn't have this ministry, I suppose I'll be one of the fallen sheep, lost in the jungle, never able to find its master. I'll never find the pack. Perhaps, I'd even be swallowed by a wolf.

You guys are a quintessential part in my spiritual life. I don't know who I'd turn to if I had any doubts about this religion. Who else can better direct my incessant questions and help me in my faith formation if not you guys? Really.

I look at myself 10 years down the road when I might not work in Singapore anymore. Will I become like them? Forget about the church, leading a life of my own because I feel that I can achieve what I need in my own power? Will I lose the close community that I have back at home and be that little lost sheep wandering around? What will become of me if my final destination for my career isn't in Singapore?

Archbishop spoke about mission, about multiplying our church community. If these Spanish friends of mine could see the need to attend mass even when they are in Singapore, and return to Madrid with a newfound enlightenment to the faith they're born into, they could add on to the multiplier effect all the way in Madrid! Imagine that. Across the world, a miracle is happening. People are flocking to church because of the influence of two people who once thought they could do nothing.

It is an increasing problem in most countries where the Catholics are no longer the youths but the elderly crowd instead. Sit at any pews in a Catholic church and you probably find yourself staring at a sea of white/grey heads bobbing silently in agreement to the Priest's homily. Youths. They slowly move away from the Church. What can we do to reach out to these people and encourage them to participate in Church activities? What can we do to influence them?

I hate to think of the word, "Nothing", because everything is possible. The question is, "HOW?" rather than saying we can't do anything. I can't help but wonder to myself. In a foreign land all by myself, attending mass alone, how can I actually do something to get the youths back? Is there anything at all? Anything?

I am very thankful for the formation of RCIY. The outreach to youths is very important. I think about our mission in spreading God's word and I look forward to starting a new RCIY journey with the sponsors and the inquirers. I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead because I know that God will make it smoother for us to go through, with lessons that will enrich our lives and make us a better person. I am ever thankful that my path of being a sponsor is directed by God because without this ministry, I'm probably nowhere-to-be-found.

Thank you sponsors, for always holding me back when I attempt to "run" away from the rules of the Catholic church, for being so patient with my questions and for looking out for my well-being.

I told you it is a random post. Really filled with incoherent thoughts.

Don't say I didn't warn you before you reach the end of this post. *Smile*

With Love.

I, THANK YOU

Dear Sponsors,

today during the confirmation mass, as our neophytes went up for the anointing of the chrism, sealing of the holy spirit, i was reflecting on the whole program, the ups and downs, the good and the bad.

when i got this task to be in charge of the confirmation program 3 months ago, i was in a rather panic stage coz i had like less than 3 months before the confirmation and frankly speaking, there was alot to be done. i would really have to thank BERNARD, KENNY and KIRSTEN(ex rciy sponsor) for sitting with me at mos burger and painlessly planning the program with me. i still remember kirsten helping me draw the timeline, bernard and i discussing which part of the program to keep and which part we can do without then kenny giving us pointers and reminding us what's impt and all.

then it's the opting and assigning of sessions which i got to thank everyone. thank you for putting up with me, the bad tempered, demanding and uncompromisible old woman when i assign u all with sessions and none of you actually said no or argued with me. as i reflecting back, i am really amazed that u all actually put up with me...haha... but really THANK YOU THANK YOU. without all of your support, many things could not happened like canteen, like YGA. THANK YOU JOY and BERNARD for making the YGA different, meaningful for our neophytes. now YGA has a meaning, serving has a meaning. THANK YOU DAPHNE and JOYCE for convincing EDWARD and KIMBERLY to take charge of the canteen and in the end, impacted EDWARD's spiritual life. he changed so much that i couldn't even believe the EDWARD i see now is the same guy i saw 2 years back!

i also want to thank LOIS for taking charge of the camp, CASS, BERNARD and KENNY being part of the camp comm. i will never forget the times when we stayed under cass's block to plan session, the tele conference meeting we have so we can get the camp program out. those were the difficult times and when we can't seem to perserve and seem stuck, thanks for being there for each other, so we can eventually come out with a program that is so enriching, so spirit filled for the neophytes.

and the rest of the other sponsors for doing all the other sessions, whether it's class or camp. THANK YOU CASS for playing all the songs. u r power! i never see someone learn songs as fast as you!THANK YOU JORLYN for allowing me to lead worship with you during the camp so that i fianlly know what isit like to lead worship, THANK YOU EUGENE for lending us the powerful sound system that our camp seem like i dunno how to put it, just pro...ha. THANK YOU VINCENT and DARYL for fixing the room up with the so many wires, so many mics and so many what have you and THANK YOU AARON for the laptop. THANK YOU ELAINE, DAISY, MERLI for doing the food and admin. you girls are just power! THANK YOU FREDDIE for the log and never saying no to my buying requests and giving moral support in my sessions. THANK YOU PATRICK for log and also returing the keys when we accidently broguht them back with us after we break camp. and THANK YOU all the other sponsors for doing the sessions. the camp really empowered our neophytes and impacted them to totally be sealed with the holy spirit today.

i need to thank all of you too when we need to chase for the details, the family spirit was so strong and the we really managed to gather the info and send to the secretary within 3 days. without the cooperation of everyone, this really could never be happening. today, as i sit there thinking, i really think we make miracle happen. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALINA for taking charge of confirmation, for handling paul sim, for doing such budget yet beautiful and meaningful confirmation gifts, for being so steady and cool when i am nearing frantic as usual. THANK YOU MOARIE for booking and ordering and serving us at uncle david's, the food is superb especially the pig and the price is perfect. of coz, cannot forget about SIMON for letting us go his house to chill after that, you really have alot of games! THANK YOU, THANK YOU , THANK YOU ALL.

i wont forget THERESA, the parish secretary for helping us with the certs, though she wasnt exactly very friendly but she really did helped us so much, UNCLE ERIC who helped us with the rooms, ALL the 3 priests who helped us throughout this journey especially FATHER ROBERT. i wont forget my 2 bosses, BEN and AARON. thank you AARON for lending me your listening ear and analysing things for me, thank you for single handling the session we supposed to do together. i will missed the time when we analyse alot of stuffs and make bold speculations about the future. thank you BEN for giving me so many advices until i blur, thank you for always able to calm me down when i panic with your so many funny logics, thank you for reminding me to let go when it's time to let go. oh ya, and i cannot forget money man ARTHUR for all the money, always turning up with money when we need it, keep accounts and all the times when you keep us focused on our objectives during our many discussions. THANK YOU.

lastly and most importantly, i thank GOD, OUR FATHER, JESUS, MY SAVIOUR and HOLY SPIRIT, MY GUIDE. THANK YOU COZ IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU THAT I CAN TAKE THIS UP AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THE TRUE MEANING OF DISCIPLESHIP THROUGH THE PROCESS. THANK YOU! YOU ARE AMAZING!

One more video clip while we're at it.

I really enjoyed watching it.

And Greg, IT'S STILL NOT COUNTED. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO IT WITH THE NAVEL EXPOSED.

NONSENSE.

HAHA!

Magnificent Rosary, Wonderful Food, Super Fun Nite

What a wonderful nite we've had today. Sigh... Simon wasn't around with his Mensa Games (suitable for me). But Ben brought his Jenga (special kind).

It's really damn fun and you have forfeits to do la...
We managed do 1 OUR FATHER and 3 HAIL MARYs in Teochew...after which we continued in English.

But what really struck me today was the feeling of prayer community. This is really a bonding session. Not only with my fellow Bros and Siss of RCIY but also with GOD!! WOOHOO!!! And looking at Freddie pray really really really moves me...

you take a look...

Yup.... that's Freddie praying....




Vincent and his Jenga Stunts


Kancheong Spider Meeeleee

We also had chilli crab, 2 spring chickens, Tom yum beehoon, prawns, Mui Chai, Fish balls, poh piah, hum, fried dumplings and CORNERSTONE!!!

Bernard simply can't resist....

AND THIS IS THE BEST PART! GREG'S FORFEIT!! TAKE A LOOK AT THE VIDEO:

Thanx for the Community

Really will like to take this oppunity to thank you all for blessing my house with ur presence, ur food and ur prayers...It is a wonderful experience and i could hear everyone reciting the rosary in mandrain so loudly lar..That is damm powerful sia. I really felt the holy spirit within us when we are praying and the reciting of the rosary sounds like the angels are singing HOLY HOLY HOLY.





I tink in the whole service to RCIY of my life, yesterday is the most uplifting experience of community i ever had sia...THat is damm cool lar..I tink we the sponsors really lift up the session we do for the confirmation camp..





Each and everyone of us recognising GOD in our life and we, the community support each other and we go forth to spread the good news of the LORD...HOOOO it is indeed a follow up session of the camp too izzit it?





This is the first time i really feel that the whole RCIY community is supporting mi and praying together with mi during this time of trials. Thanx you guys and girls.






And most importantly i wanna thanx The Almighty Father, Our redeemer The Son and our energy giver The Spirit. Without them wun be forming this RCIY community and serve HIM. Not forgetting Our Mother of Perpetual Help, who is the Queen of Peace and with all the saints and the angels that are praying with us all the while.

Juz to give u all feed back..My mum really enjoy ur presence and the prayer for her...She felt happy and felt very touch..Hoooo that is ultimate man. Keep on keep my mother and my familiy in ur daily prayers yar...

Prayer in Chinese is actually quite amazing.

I must say that although I really don't know what I was reciting, I was reciting it anyway and did a translation in English in my head.

It was especially funny when Jeri sat us down to recite the words after her. It was as though we were all in a classroom with a teacher leading us to read! And read, we all did, with the enthusiasm that we have, even if we had to struggle.

It's amazing. I honestly CANNOT read the words, and I don't even understand the hanyu pinyin. Not to mention, I really didn't understand the words until like maybe, the third decade of the rosary. I then decided that to facilitate my understanding better, I should try to infiltrate the English version in to make sense of the words. Although I think I pronounced the words wrongly. Hehe. *sheepish grin*

I still can't say the "Glory Be" properly. :(

However, I want to thank everyone who took part in this prayer meet as well, especially to Jeri and Kenny for preparing the Chinese rosary for us! I know it's difficult to type in Chinese, what more include the pinyin for it. Ok at least I can't type in Chinese! I'll take a million years to find the words.

Thank you Ber for opening your house (so convenient for me. Hurhur!) and having your mom prepare deeeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious curry! Yummy! And everyone else who helped to fill our tummies in one way or another.

The games and lanterns and sparklers as well! How can I forget that. Brought back memories of my childhood days, burning lanterns (not lighting them. BURNING them.) and attempting to set half the playground on fire with candles. We only did it to a bench. DAMN. (Meli you should have came down to play with the sparklers as well since you bought them!)

It was indeed one of the best best best best prayer meet I've ever ever had. And Jeri, although I didn't understand your prayer, I know it is good. Because I could feel the Spirit.

:)

Ben's experience at Bernard's house with God

I had a really wonderful experience at Bernard’s house earlier! As I was praying the Rosary in Chinese, I can feel and experience GOD through the Community! As we chorus the prayer together, the chords went straight to my heart! It was as if God was with us all…and we are sharing it with other people. I can finally understand what it means to Share God with Other people as a Community!

Although all our Chinese sucks, it was our efforts to keep going despite how it sound that was truly Christ! The best part of it all is the “Ave Maria” that’s cool, after singing it so beautifully for the entire rosary, Jer finally tells us that it was wrong! Haha…I thank God for the experience! It was absolutely beautiful… I really hope this sense of community can foster and thrive in our community of RCIY Christ the King. Perhaps we can invite the Inquirers/Neophytes to join us…after all it’s because of them that we are into this ministry! =)

- Ben

a GOOD prayer meet

hi all,

my first post, just a little something to share on my holiday. haha. anyway, thanks for coming to prayer meet today. after so many prayer meets, this is one with the highest attendance...ha... but i must say all of you are good, really, even though your chinese may not be fluent but all of you put in effort, like michelle from cannot read till becoming one of the loudest saying hail mary and many of you who i noticed were really reciting the hail mary, reflecting on the words.

Thank Bernard also for opening up his place for us so we can go there and bond and also pray for his mother. i really hope, by god's grace, his mother will recover soon. well, today is also a new exprience for me. i really never in my whole life say so many chinese biblical terms, somemore i din prepare anything at all. usually, when i do my chinese devotion for school, i will write down and practice with kenny. today, really, whatever came out of my mouth is the spirit. i was actually quite nervous at the beginning coz i am really worried i say the wrong stuff but after saying 50 hail marys in chinese, all i can think of is later at closing must lay hands on ber's mum, thank god's blessing and ask for mother mary's intercessions. i have no idea where my words came from but i want to believe it's the spirit who guided me to say all this.

well, i hope all of you have a new exprience also, chinese prayers may seem difficult to understand but just like english prayers, when u reflect on the words, they are just as powerful as english ones, personally exprience the power of god through the hail marys and hail holy queen today. maybe next time we will do divine mercy in chinese? i dun mind going through the trouble of typing everything in chinese again so long we all gather together to pray, reflect and exprience HIS power through prayers.....

WAN FU MA LI YA, ZHU YU NI TONG ZAI....
God bless