The word "Christmas" is of late Old English origin, Cristes Maesse or "Mass of Christ". "Mass" comes from the Latin missa, and refers to the service of Eucharist. Christmas is a crescendo of Christ's manifesting Himself as God and King, and begins on 25 Dec and liturgically ends twelve days later with the feast of the Baptism of Christ.
When the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph found "no room for them in the inn", they proceeded to a stable on the closest eastern hill, which served as a place of refuge for shepherds. Simplicity is honoured there, poverty is exalted and humility is commended. The holy man of God stands before the manger full of sighs, consumed by devotion and filled with a marvelous joy.
May you also find joy and encounter Christ this Christmas. Let the focus this Christmas be Jesus Christ and His gift of eternal life. Have a blessed Christmas with your loved ones.
Feast of the Holy Family
The Feast celebrates the family unit and the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The feast usually falls on the Sunday after Christmas. If Christmas is a Sunday, then the feast is celebrated on 30 Dec. On this day, parents give their children special blessings, couples renew their marriage vows (even if just privately) and some consecrate their family to the Holy Family. Lord Jesus Christ, with the assistance of Mary and Joseph, teach us the virtues of Thy Holy Family.
SSVP Christmas Party
The first Society of St Vincent de Paul X'mas party was held in our Parish Hall on Sat 17 Dec for FINs (Friends In Need) from Pasir Ris-Loyang. All families were entertained with X'mas carols from the 7am choir. Fr Johnson led a prayer before everyone delved into a sumptuous Nonya buffet. The party involved games and was a great opportunity for getting to know one another. The SSVP meets fortnightly. For more information, e-mail svdp@divinemercy.sg
Simpang Gabi
Simbang Gabi is an annual tradition of our fellow Filipino brothers and sisters where nine days of novena are celebrated in anticipation of Christmas. The theme for the 3rd day of novena is MOTHER MOST PURE and was held at our parish on 17 Dec. Philippine Ambassador to Singapore, H.E. Minda Calaguian-Cruz was in our parish to celebrate with her fellow countrymen. Celebrants were Fr Angel and Fr Harold.
Archbishop Chia's Christmas Message 2011
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In the countryside, the angels appeared to the Shepherds during the night and said, "Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people..." (Luke 2:10)
It is with great joy that we welcome Jesus into our homes and hearts this Christmas. God's greatest gift, our Lord Jesus, is a gift to be shared. How can we share Jesus with others? By putting God first in our lives each day and connecting our Catholic faith to our everyday thoughts, words and actions.
Jesus is God's word made flesh, but God speaks to us also through His Creation, the Earth in which we live. St. Francis had recognized nature as God's beautiful book, which speaks to us of God's goodness. Human beings are connected to nature, and in showing respect for our environment, we are also showing respect for human life and God himself.
This Christmas, let us look beyond all the festivities and holiday trappings and focus on sharing Jesus with others through gifts which lift the human spirit and help protect God's Creation. Let us think about the origin of the gifts we purchase and aim to give experiences rather than material items. For example, we can give tickets to a concert, art event or family activity. We can purchase gifts that support a charity. We can also give the most special gift of all – the gift of our time - to loved ones and those in need, bringing Jesus to birth through acts of kindness and humility. By reaching out to others, we can be the arms and legs of Jesus on Earth!
Going forward into the New Year, we can make small changes in our everyday habits. We can turn off lights when we leave a room, switch off computers when not in use and limit our use of aircon. We can bring our own eco-friendly bags to the grocery store for food shopping rather than relying on plastic bags, which harm animals and pollute the environment. We can make it a habit to bring our own water bottle to work, school and when moving around town to avoid purchasing bottled water. We can avoid using Styrofoam, which is a hazard to the environment. We can drive less, especially to and from Mass, and walk more, or use public transportation. Every little bit helps, and if we each focus on doing our own small part, we can make a difference in caring for God's beautiful Creation.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, may the blessing of God's Creation be with you all. Let us pray for those impacted by climate change and for the strength to make the changes needed in our own lives to care for the world God gave us.
Peace be with you this Christmas and a blessed New Year ahead. Go forth and bring Jesus to birth this Christmas. Be His arms and legs on this Earth to help make the world a better place for all humankind!
Yours devotedly in Christ,
Archbishop Nicholas Chia
WE'RE TAKING A BREAK!
Catechism Class for 2011 Ends this Weekend
Classes for 2012 will resume in mid February. Parents will be informed of the early next year on the commencement. For enquiries, please e-mail catechism@divinemercy.sg or contact Allyson 9299 0997
Chinese Divine Mercy Devotion
No devotions in Dec and Jan. Devotions will resume on 26 Feb 2012
Children's Liturgy
There will not be any Children's Liturgy from 4 December onwards. Liturgy sessions will recommence from 8 Jan 2012.
Line Dance Nite
The group will take a "Seasonal Break" in December 2011 and January 2012.
Please look out for re-start date in our weekly bulletin.
As part of the RCIA journey, the catechumens embarked on a one-day visit to certain places that would enlightened them on the early missionaries, the mission, and the Church. Led by Fr Ignatius Yeo, the first stop was at Assumption Pathway School, formerly known as Boy's Town. Br Dominic Kiong and Br Denis warmly welcomed the group and gave a brief presentation of the school and her role in society. Founded by the Brothers of St Gabriel who led their lives in the charisma of their founder, St Louis Marie de Monfort, the school aims to provide those children, who fall through the cracks of mainstream education, to help them acquired a skill that will enable them to seek employment in the working world.
Next stop was at Church of St Mary of the Angels. Fr Derrick Yap gave an insight of his vocation as well as the Friars who lead their lives in the charisma of their founder, St Francis of Assisi.
It was a hearty lunch at Molly Roffey's followed by a short walk to Archbishop's House. The catechumens were welcomed by His Grace, Archbishop Nicholas Chia. The day ended with Fr Ignatius describing about The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd - the Seat of the Archdiocese of Singapore.
May the blessings of the Holy Spirit be upon the catechumens as they continue their onward journey leading towards Easter.
Angels during Advent
Last weekend, the catechists organised a special event for the primary-level students to commemorate the ending of catechism classes. Inspired by the theme 'Angels', they invited the families of the children down to participate in an Advent programme. This consisted of various activities, such as making paper angels that can be used as Christmas tree decorations, as well as para-liturgies aimed at creating a deeper understanding of Christmas. We caught up with Schoen Karl and his wife Annie, parents of Primary 1 student, Portia last Sunday.
"We enjoyed the Advent programme as it allowed us to bond with our children, and understand the Christmas story together. As the entire family was invited, Portia could also bond with her brothers, Ethan (1 year) and Miguel (K1). We would suggest that future sessions be carried out in smaller groups so that there can be more interaction with other parents." - the Karl family
4th Sunday of Advent
Today we light the fourth candle in our Advent wreath, and remind ourselves of God's love for us. A good definition of love is in the name 'Emmanuel', or 'God is with us'. When we're worn out and feeling empty, we need to remind ourselves that God is with us. He already loves us fully and unconditionally, whether or not we deserve it. Wake up, because the birth of the Lord is almost at hand. Let us go to meet Him in His glory: to listen to him, love Him and follow Him!
Advent reconciliation service
The penitential service for our parish will be on Wed, 21 Dec, at 8pm in the Main Church. All parishioners are strongly encouraged to come for this service and make a good confession in preparation to receive our infant Jesus at Christmas.
Archbishop's Christmas message:
"It is with great joy that we welcome Jesus into our homes and hearts this Christmas. God's greatest gift, our Lord Jesus, is a gift to be shared. How can we share Jesus with others? By putting God first in our lives each day and connecting our Catholic faith to our everyday thoughts, words, and actions…" Read more HERE
The Gift of Faith
Congratulations to the parents and godparents whose infants received the precious gift of Baptism last Sunday 11 Dec 2011. May the blessings of our Lord be upon them in nurturing their child to walk in the path of Christ.
The Catechist Ministry conducted a "Parent & Child Advent Session" last weekend. The little ones had an interactive and bonding time with their parents in discovering more about the meaning and purpose of Advent. Here are some of the special moments.
The Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday. You will notice that one of the candles on the Advent wreath is pink in colour. Gaudete is the imperative plural form of the Latin verb gaudere (to rejoice).In these days of penance and preparation leading up to the feast of our Savior's birth, it reminds us of the joy that is to come, and serves, amid this season of penance, when we recall the hope we have because of the coming of Jesus.
Like Lent, Advent is a penitential season, so the priest normally wears purple vestments. But on Gaudete Sunday, having passed the midpoint of Advent, the Church lightens the mood a little, and the priest may wear rose vestments. The change in color provides us with encouragement to continue our preparation for Christmas.
All are invited to join the NCC for the Advent booklet sharing. (See pg 1)
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (8 Dec)
On Thursday, 8 Dec, we celebrated the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. This day does not refer to Mary's conceiving Jesus by the Holy Ghost, but to the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, by Mary's father, St. Joachim. What makes her conception immaculate is not that she was conceived by the Holy Ghost of a virgin, as was Christ Our Lord, but that from the very moment of her conception, she was filled with grace by God, Who knew, in His omniscience, that she would say "yes" to the Angel Gabriel and become the Mother of the Savior
Let us imitate our Blessed Mother Mary in saying "Yes" to God's calling to be obedient to His will.
WE'RE TAKING A BREAK!
Catechism Class for 2011 Ends this Weekend
Classes for 2012 will resume in mid February. Parents will be informed of the early next year on the commencement. For enquiries, please e-mail catechism@divinemercy.sg or contact Allyson 9299 0997
Chinese Divine Mercy Devotion
No devotions in Dec and Jan. Devotions will resume on 26 Feb 2012
Children's Liturgy
There will not be any Children's Liturgy from 4 December onwards. Liturgy sessions will recommence from 8 Jan 2012.
Line Dance Nite
The group will take a "Seasonal Break" in December 2011 and January 2012.
Please look out for re-start date in our weekly bulletin.
The Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath is part of our
long-standing Catholic tradition and
its symbolism is truly beautiful. The
wreath's circular shape and evergreens
signify continuous life and the
immortality of our soul promised to us
through Christ's victory over sin and
death.
The four candles represent the four
weeks of Advent. Three candles are
purple and one is rose. The purple
candles symbolise prayer, penance
and preparatory sacrifices and good
works undertaken at this time. The
rose candle is lit on the third Sunday
or "Gaudete Sunday", a day of
rejoicing because the faithful have
arrived at the midpoint of Advent and
anticipate Christmas. The progressive
lighting of the candles symbolises the
expectation and hope surrounding our
Lord's first coming into the world and
the anticipation of His second coming
to judge the living and the dead.
Since Advent is a time to increase our
faith in the Lord, the wreath and its
prayers provide us a way to enrich this
special preparation for Christmas.
Blessing and Commissioning of Altar Revised Roman Missal
On the First Sunday of Advent, last
weekend, we began a new liturgical year.
At the first Mass celebrated (Saturday
5.30pm Mass) we blessed our Advent
Wreath and at the same time received
and put into service a new book to be
used at our altar. That is, the altar RRMs
for the main church and chapel were
commissioned. This was done after the old
Sacramentary was de-commissioned.
The English translation of the Revised Roman Missal includes updated translations of existing prayers, including some of the well-known responses and acclamations of the people. Parishes have now completed the implementation of various new and revised texts of the Order of Mass.
Thank you Spring Cleaning Volunteers!
Thank you to the volunteers who turned up to help the D'Cleanse Ministry in the annual spring
cleaning held last Saturday to prepare the church for Advent.
What is Advent?
Advent is a time of preparation. It is a time of waiting; for the coming of Jesus; his birth into the world and the fulfilling of his mission to redeem the world. The word Advent, or advenio in Latin means "to come to" and thus refers to the coming of Christ in three aspects. First, it refers to our celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas; and second, to the coming of Christ in our lives through grace and the Sacrament of Holy Communion
Finally, it is to His Second Coming at the end of time. Our preparations, therefore, should have all three comings in mind. We need to prepare our souls to receive Christ worthily. The mood of this season is one of somber spiritual preparation that increases in joy with each day. Let us not allow the commercialisation of "Christmas" to blind us from the true spirit of the Advent season. Have a blessed Advent.
Parish Mission 2012 - Parish Census Home Visit
Our Census update exercise is well underway and parishioners can expect a visit by our census team in the coming weeks. Our team will visit all Catholic homes to confirm your particulars and contact details in preparation for the Home Visits by the Redemptorist Priests in Jan 2012.
Our volunteers will bring with them a photo ID tag and a letter from the priests about the census. You can request for these to be sighted before agreeing on the census.
In case you are not home, our volunteers will insert a copy of the census form at your home which you can complete and return to the parish office.
The Gift of Faith - 13 Nov 2011
Congratulations to the parents and godparents whose child received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday 13 Nov 2011 at the 11.30am Mass. The parish community warmly welcome these little ones into the family of Christ.
The focus of Advent is preparation for
the coming of the Lord. Just as we
prepare ourselves for His Nativity, so
too, are we preparing the church for
this holy season.
The D'Cleanse Ministry is organising
its annual spring cleaning on Saturday,
26 Nov, 8am. We urgently need many
volunteers to spread the load and to
complete the cleaning early. Please
gather at the foyer. Equipment will be
provided. All you need to bring are
a big heart and willing hands eager
to serve God and our community.
To volunteer or for enquiries, please
contact Peter Augustine (96322618) or
e-mail dcleanse@divinemercy.sg by 24
Nov so we can organize the logistics
and gauge the helpers.
CDM IS BUGGED BY LITTER!
Eating in the house of the Lord is a big
no-no. Often after Mass, messy food
items are scattered all over the place.
If we are not volunteering to clean the
church weekly, the least we can do is
to keep the church clean.
Society of St Vincent de Paul
Last Saturday, members of CDM's newest
ministry, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul,
gathered to elect their committee.
[Left to Right]: Andrew Heng (Vice-
President),Thomas Lim (Treasurer), Anthony
Conrad Duncan (President), Mark Chew
Nam (Secretary), Jessica Chia (Assistant
Treasurer), Fr. Johnson (Spiritual Director)
We applaud the willingness of these men
and women to volunteer their time and
talents as leaders of this new ministry!
Their tagline is: "to serve the Lord's
beloved poor with all our heart", and we
pray that the ministry will be able to live out
this mission, For enquiries, please contact
Duncan at 90693890 or e-mail svdp@
divinemercy.sg
Sacrament of Confirmation
"Be sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit"
After months of preparation, 67 teens said YES to be soldiers of Christ last Sunday at the Sacrament of Confirmation. Archbishop Nicholas Chia was present to confer the Sacrament. Heartiest congratulations to our youth! With the seal of the Holy Spirit imprinted on them, may our youths live their faith fervently in their words and deeds.
We would like to also thank the Con 3 catechists, others catechists and Ministries, who have helped prepare the youth for their big day and making the celebration a meaningful and memorable one!
Tessa and Travis looking calm and composed before their confirmation mass.
We caught up with Travis Lanz Pereira and Tessa Tan before their confirmation mass to find out what's going through their minds.
How do you feel? Tessa: Excited and nervous about giving the 'Thank you' speech in front of the congregation later. On the other hand, I'm elated because I can officially enter the Church as an adult spiritually.
Travis: Excited and honoured to be given the opportunity to represent the entire cohort of Confirmants in expressing our gratitude and appreciation to all who have helped and been with us on this special journey.
How did you prepare for today? Tessa: I prayed that all would go well. I've received tremendous support from both my parents and godparents.
Travis: I talked to God and asked him to guide me through my Confirmation.
RCIA Canteen Day
In conversation with the elderly.
The catechumens and RCIA team would like to thank everyone for their support and their words of encouragement to the catechumens.
What is your answer to
God's Call?
Volunteers Needed for Weekday Mass
We are looking for powerpoint volunteers as well as people to lead the singing for daily morning Mass. If you can spare the time, please approach the Parish Office and let the secretariat know which days of the week you are available.
Sacrament of Confirmation
Heartiest congratulations to our youths who received the Sacrament of Confirmation from His Grace Archbishop Nicholas Chia last Sunday 6 Nov 2011 at the 5.30pm Mass. With the seal of the Holy Spirit imprinted on them, may our youths live fervently in the spreading the Good News in words and deeds in their daily lives.
For requests of selected photos, please send an email to photography@divinemercy.sg indicating the (a) Gallery Number (b) Photo Serial Number. A full set of all the above photos will be handed to the Catechist Coordinator too.
Works of Mercy
RCIA visits Sree Narayana Mission Home Again
In conversation with the elderly.
Helping the elderly with their lunch.
Residents in nursing homes and
assisted living facilities often feel
isolated and excluded. Developing
stronger connections between these
older adults and their community can
have tremendous benefits. RCIA's
second visit to this home brightened
the day for these elderly.
16th Family Rosary Rally 2011
The 16th Family Rosary Rally was held
last Sunday, 30 Oct, from 1-5pm. The
Rally is an annual gathering of all Block
Rosary groups. This Rosary Rally is a
yearly tradition of gathering as one family
to praise and thank God for the many
blessings we receive through our devotion
to our Blessed Mother Mary. This year the
celebration was held in CDM.
The rally entails three parts – the event
started with the Living Rosary, followed
by the Eucharistic Celebration conducted
by Fr. Angel C. Luciano and ended with
fellowship at our canteen.
Let us continue to pray with fervour
through our Blessed Mother.
The RCIA group has planned a
delectable menu of beehoon, fishballs,
hotdogs, croissant etc. for their
Canteen Sunday. Food will be available
from 7am - 1130am. Come support the
group and meet our catechumens to
encourage them in their RCIA journey!deeds.
CDM's RCIA brought joy to the
residents at the Sree Narayana Home
last weekend.
We are not only to receive the mercy of
God, but to use it by being merciful to
others through our actions, our words,
and our prayers; in other words, we are
to practice the Corporal and Spiritual
Works (Acts) of Mercy. The Lord wants
us to do these works of mercy, because
even the strongest faith is of no use
without works.
CDM's Divine Mercy prayer team
recently embarked on its works
of mercy by reaching out to our
community through home and hospital
visits. The team visits and prays for the
sick and dying who are homebound
and in hospital. The team also assists
families who require assistance in
arranging funerals, wake prayers and
7-night prayers after funeral. Those who
would like our team to visit and pray for
their sick or dying family members or
would like to find out more can contact Nicole 98459286 or email: nicogwen@
gmail.com
RCIA Visits Sree Narayana Home
Our catechumens entertaining the
residents!
"…the people rejoiced because they had
offered so willingly, for they made their
offering to the Lord with a whole heart…" -
1 Chronicles 29:9
Last Sunday, our catechumens, together
with their facilitators visited Sree Narayana
Mission Home for the aged sick as part of
their RCIA journey. For many, it was the
first time they have participated in such
"Works of Mercy", which calls upon the
Spirit to enlighten all who perform such
deeds.
Oh what joy you brought to my day!
It was evident that the visit brought much
cheer to the residents as it can be seen in
their faces and their gestures! However, it
was our catechumens who left the Home
filled with love, joy and the Spirit.
The RCIA group will be visiting St Joseph's
Home this Sunday (30 Oct). Let us pray
that the Holy Spirit will continue to touch
our catechumens, their sponsors and
facilitators.
Donation Appeal for Typhoons & Floods
Typhoons and massive floods have
adversely impacted the lives of more than
13m people in the Philippines, Thailand
and neighbouring countries. To help these
countries, please obtain a flyer and Appeal
Envelope from the parish office and send
in your donations. Crossed cheques
should be made payable to "Humanitarian
Aid Fund" and mailed with your name
and address to: CHARIS, 55 Waterloo
St, #09-03A, S(187954). Please contact Christopher Wee at 63380182 or info@charis-singapore.org for further info.
World Mission Sunday (WMS)
Every year, the
needs of the
Catholic Church
in the Mission
increase. This
task has not
lost any of its
urgency. We
cannot be
content that,
after 2,000 years, there are still people
who do not know Christ and have not
yet heard His message of salvation. Not
only this, but there is an ever greater
number of people to whom the Gospel
has been proclaimed, but who have
forgotten it, or abandoned it and no
longer associate with the Church. Let
us recommit ourselves to the Church's
missionary activity and reach out to
those who do not know or have turned
away from Christ.
CDM 2012 Parish Mission Project
Missionary activity renews the Church,
revitalises faith and Christian identity,
and offers fresh enthusiasm and new
incentive. In early 2012, CDM will be
embarking on an its first Parish Mission
project with the hope of renewing the
spirit and faith of our community. We
will be seeking volunteers and your
support in the outreach. Look out for
more announcements in the coming
weeks!
Excerpts from the Pope's WMS
message
The proclamation of the Gospel is intended
for all peoples. The Church is "by her very
nature missionary since, according to the
plan of the Father, she has her origin in
the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit"
(Decree on the Church's Missionary Activity
Ad Gentes, n. 2).
The Gospel is not an exclusive possession
of whoever has received it but a gift to
share, good news to communicate. And
this gift-commitment is not only entrusted
to a few but to all the baptized, who are
"a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, God's own people" (1 Pt 2:9), so
that they may declare his wonderful deeds. - Pope Benedict XVI
RCIA Mission Work
The RCIA group will be having their Works
of Mercy projects on the 23rd and 30th
of Oct. We will be visiting Sree Narayana
Home in Yishun on the 23 Oct and and St
Joseph's Home on the 30 Oct. This will be
their first social mission activity together.
Let us pray that they will be touched by the
Spirit.
D'Cleanse Ministry
What does the D'Cleanse ministry do?
Stephen: We basically work to keep the church clean for all parishioners. We are the "unseen people".
Why did you join this ministry?
Stephen: I feel that it doesn't require too much commitment, just a few hours every Saturday is enough. I also feel good about being able to contribute tthe church.
Which cleaning activity do you do most?
Stephen: I have a certain liking for vacuuming the stairs. It's a form of exercise for me!
We Need More Volunteers!
Anyone can help out with the weekly cleaning of our church premises. Come down to CDM at 8am on Saturday mornings to lend a hand! Sessions usually end by 10am. All you need to bring is stamina for doing God's work. Contact Peter (96322618) for more information.
D'Cleanse Ministry member Stephen Teo, chatting with some of the Con 3 volunteers.
Many people have commented about the beauty and cleanliness of our parish. Yet, do you know who keeps CDM in its excellent condition? We had a chat with one member of the small "silent army" who help make our parish comfortable for everyone.
Evergreen Circle
Curious about what goes on during the Evergreen Circle (EC) gatherings? We've managed to get an insider's look at the most recent session, which featured activities such as a sing-along, an inspiring video-talk by Joel Osteen, as well as line-dancing and a board games session.
Staying healthy and having fun at the same time – EC participants enthusiastically gave line-dancing a try.
The next EC gathering will be on Monday, 14 Nov, at 2.30pm in the Parish Hall. All elderly and retirees above the age of 55 are welcome to join in this time of relaxation and fellowship!
Infant Baptism
Click on image to Enlarge
Congratulations to the parents and godparents whose infants received the precious gift of Baptism. May the blessings of our Lord be upon them in nurturing their child to walk in the path of Christ.
For photo requests, pls send an email to photography@divinemercy.sg stating the (a) Gallery number and (b) Photo serial number.
First Holy Communion
Click image to enlarge
After months of spiritual preparation by the catechists, the children of primary 3 level celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist with the parish community over three Masses last weekend. Nurturing the spiritual growth of these little ones do not end with this Sacrament. It is the beginning of a lifelong journey with Christ through active, conscious, and meaningful worship during Mass. Parents also affirmed their commitment in the guidance and continual catechesis of their child. May the abundant blessings of the Lord be upon the parents, godparents, and the children on this special celebration.
For photo request, kindly email to photography@divinemercy.sg stating the:-
(a) Mass time.
(b) Gallery number.
(c) Photo serial number.
Through the
Sacrament of the
Holy Eucharist
celebrated last
weekend, we
were reminded
that Christ is truly
present in the
Eucharist.
"At the Last Supper, our Savior instituted
the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and
Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate
the sacrifice of the cross throughout the
ages until he should come again, and
so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the
Church, a memorial of his death and
resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign
of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal
banquet 'in which Christ is consumed,
the mind is filled with grace, and a
pledge of future glory is given to us.'"
Catechism of the Catholic Church (1323)
How they felt about their First Holy
Communion:
"Good! I was also
excited and shy
because we had
to sing in front of
everyone. I look
forward to my next
Communion when
I serve Mass on
Tuesday."- Michael
Gerard Pinto, 3A
"I was excited and nervous. I'm also
happy that I can join everyone else for
Communion from today onwards." -- Jevienne Anne Biron, 3A
Thanks, Fr Martin!
Fr. Martin surprised us with his visit back to
CDM to help with the FHC Masses. Thanks
Fr. for coming down from Penang!
Remembering St Faustina
St. Faustina's feast day occurred on 5 Oct. St.
Faustina's struggles
were like our own but,
on the inside her soul
was transformed daily
through prayer and God's mercy. The
Lord Jesus asked St. Faustina for three
requests:
1.
Pray for souls, entrusting them to God's Incomprehensible Mercy
2.
Tell the world about God's Generous Mercy
3.
Start a new movement in the Church focusing on God's Mercy.
Let us pray for the same trust in God like
St. Faustina and make it our mission to
realise the three requests of God to her.
Preparing for Our First Holy Communion (FHC)
This weekend
will indeed be
very special for
our 138 Primary
3 children who
will be receiving
Christ for the
first time at the Sunset (1 Oct) and Sunday (2 Oct) 9am
and 11.30am Masses. All are welcome
to celebrate these joyous occasions,
especially those who are currently
praying for children on the FHC prayer
card. Do step forward on this special day
to congratulate the child and show him
or her your support!
Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Prayers, thanksgivings, and words of affirmation were exchanged between parents and children as part of their FHC project.
On Fri, 16 Sep, our Primary 3 students
went for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
as part of their preparations to receive
the Eucharist. Parents were invited to
take part in a concurrent para-liturgical
session, where they reflected upon an
account of the Last Supper as well as
the story of the centurion who inspired
our Communion response of "Lord I am
unworthy to receive you under my roof,
but only say the word and I shall be
healed."
Double Joy for Some
Last Saturday, five primary 3 children celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism in the Chapel with their godparents and relatives. We welcome them into the family of Christ. In the coming weekend of the 1st & 2nd Oct, the parish community will witness and celebrate the children of primary 3 level catechism classes receiving their Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. Let us pray for them and their parents and godparents for a meaningful celebration.
For photo requests, pls send an email to photography@divinemercy.sg indicating the (a) Gallery number (b) Photo serial number.
Please Take Note...
Official Photographers for FHC Mass
CDM's official photographers will be taking
each child's photo when s/he receives
the Eucharist. In order not to disrupt the
reverence of the occasion, parents are
required to photograph from their seats
instead of going up to the altar.
Catechism Class Break
There will be no catechism classes during
the month of October for Pri 1 to Con 2
students. Sessions will resume on 4/5/6
Nov. Con 3 students will continue with
lessons as per normal.
Registration for the Sacrament of
Confirmation
On Sun, 6 Nov, the Confirmation 3 teens
in CDM will be receiving the Sacrament
of Confirmation. Those who have not
received this sacrament and wish to do
so must register with the parish office.
There will also be 4 preparatory sessions
to attend:
Last Sunday afternoon, parishioners and the various ministries of CDM attended a presentation by Fr Ignatius Yeo on the revisions to the Roman Missal. There is no change in the essence of the Eucharistic celebration. The revisions in the Roman Missal that will take place on the beginning of the new liturgical year, First Sunday of Advent, that falls on Nov 27, 2011 is to enhance and give a fuller meaning to the form of the celebration. We are called, not just to adopt the revisions in words and actions during Mass but to engage ourselves in a conscious, active, and participative celebration as one Body of Christ even after Mass and throughout our daily lives. After the presentation, the Sunday evening Mass celebrated at 5.30pm has the community witnessed the commissioning of Eucharistic Ministers and Hospitality Ministry members. We wish them strength to continue in the Lord's vineyard.
Commissioning Mass
Last Sunday, we celebrated the
commissioning of CDM's Hospitality
and Extraordinary ministers. One of our
Communications Ministry members
caught up with a few of the commissioned
ministers and asked them about the
reasons behind their decision to serve.
Hospitality Ministers
Francis Lim: "I joined this ministry to serve
the Lord and to get to know more people
in the church. I hope that my actions may
help parishioners feel closer to God."
Extraordinary Minister
Adrian Foo: "I joined this ministry
in order to be a
servant to Christ and
this community. I also
hope to be able to
bring the Eucharist
to those who are
homebound and
unable to come to
Church."
Catherine Yong: "I hope to serve
God and bond with
the community
here."
Thank you, Ministries!
A big "Thank You!" to all the ministry
members of CDM who have put in so
much time and effort to mentor the
Confirmation 3 students during their
9-week service attachment. As the teens
journey on towards their Sacrament of
Confirmation - which will be held on Sun,
6 Nov, during the 5.30pm Mass - let us
continue to pray that their lives will be
touched by the Holy Spirit and that they
may continue to grow in faith.
Make a Difference!
If you would like to make a difference in the lives of the children and youth in CDM, why
not consider stepping up to be a catechist? With an increasing number of children in our
parish, the harvest is indeed plentiful but the labourers are few, as the Bible says.
The Catechist Ministry invites everyone interested to register at Room 1 (Level 3) this
Sat, 24 Sep, from 4 - 5pm or Sun, 25 Sep, from 10 - 11am. For further enquiries, please
contact Agnes at 98300258 or email catechism@divinemercy.sg
Come join them on this fulfilling journey.sting.
The Gift of Faith
Click on image to enlarge
Congratulations to the parents and godparents of the infants who received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday 11 Sep 2011 at the 11.30am Mass. A warm welcome of these little ones into the family of Christ. Photos of the infant baptism can be viewed at the following links.
For photo requests, kindly email to photography@divinemercy.sg indicating the (a) Gallery number and (b) Photo serial number.
First Holy Communion -
Whole Community Catechesis
The FHC Whole
Community
Catechesis was
held last Sunday
from 3-5pm. It was
an opportunity for
the ministries to
know the children
so that the children
will be celebrating
their FHC with
people in thecommunity that they know.
The Whole Community Catechesis
was also a good occasion for both the
parents and children to share their own
experiences, fears or expectations of the
upcoming FHC.
Next milestone is Sacrament of
reconciliation on 16Sep/Fri at 7:30PM.
Confirmation 3 Service Project
- The Lector Ministry
Erika and Chloe,
two of our Con 3
reporters, spoke
to Jonathan
Narayan about
his attachment
with the Lector
Ministry.
What made you join this ministry?
It's more of my love for scripture and I read
the bible daily. Also, to let other people
know about the miracles of God.
Are there any skills required to be in this
ministry?
No fear or nervousness of being up on the
altar and reading at the lectern. Not a lot
of people are brave enough to read in front
of a huge congregation. You must have a
good posture for voice projection.
What do you usually do during your
attachment?
Every week, a different group is assigned
to read the readings and we share on how
they relate to our daily lives.
What can you learn from your mentors?
One most important thing is that during
sharing sessions, it's not necessary to
be vocal and it's alright to be silent. It's
whether God wants you to speak and talk.
What were your initial thoughts on
joining this ministry?
At first I thought it would be pure reading.
After seven weeks, I realized it's not just
pure reading, but also sharing and soul
searching. The Lectors are a vibrant group
of people. During the sessions, they try to
make it interesting.
Rite of Acceptance
It is never easy to walk on the path towards Christ...especially the path that is often narrow and dificult to tread. But with prayers and the help from the parish community, it makes the journey of these Inquirers more meaningful and easier to bear as they take a step closer to Christ in the Rite of Acceptance.
The primary 2 children received their first
Sacrament of Reconciliation on 26 August.
Parents of the children showed their
support by praying the Divine Mercy
chaplet during the confessions.
Our P3 children will be having their
Sacrament of Reconciliation on 16Sep, Fri
at 7:30pm to prepare themselves for their
First Holy Communion
« Alden Ethan Tan having his first confession
with Fr. Johnson Fernandez
Confirmation 3 Service Project
- The Hospitality Ministry
Erika and Chloe, two
of our Con 3 reporters,
found out more about
Jacqueline Lewis's
and Norman Tan's
attachments with the
Sunset Team in the
Hospitality Ministry.
What do you hope to achieve after your
attachment?
Jacqueline: I hope to be more outspoken
and more welcoming to the parishioners.
Norman: I want to contribute to the
church.
In what ways do you think you can make
a contribution to this ministry?
Jacqueline: By joining this ministry. After
my O'Levels, of course.
Norman: Actually, I've already joined this
ministry as I enjoy it very much.
How do you deal with people who
respond negatively to you?
Jacqueline: Well, so far I've not
encountered such people but there are
such instances as having to deal with
people who are picky about their seating
position.
Norman: I've not yet had the opportunity
to deal with such people.
Registration for Catechism - Primary 1 (2012)
Catechism registration for children who will be in Primary 1 next year will take place over the weekends of 17/18 September and 24/25 September.
You may register at the foyer after every mass or DOWNLOAD the registration forms. Please note that a scanned/photo copy of your child's baptism certificate is required.
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few "
With an increasing number of children in our parish, there is a need for more catechists, thus, we welcome those interested to register at Room 1, Level 3 on Saturdays from 4 - 5pm or Sundays from 10 - 11am.
Come and join us as we journey with the children and teens in our parish.
Ordination of Rev. Deacon Martin Arlando
Click image to Enlarge
On 29 August, we celebrated the joyous occassion of the ordination of Deacon Martin Arlando in his parish, The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Butterworth, Penang. About 30 CDM parishioners made their way down to the very beautifully decorated church to witness an even more beautiful ordination. Rev. Father Martin gave the group his blessings as a full fledged priest and thanked all parishioners who have been praying for him. Let us continue to pray for Rev. Father Martin, has he begins his new journey to serve the community there.
Click HERE for link to the photos taken at the ordination of Rev. Martin Arlando
Rooted in CHRIST
This year, EDYD 2011 (East District Youth Day) was celebrated at Church of Divine Mercy. Coming together were youths from the 6 east district parishes of St Stephen, Queen of Peace, Holy Family, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Holy Trinity, Divine Mercy. It was a evening of prayer and worship. More importantly was to to examine how has one been rooted in Christ. We are all created in the image of Christ; But have we walk in His likeness?
Confirmation 3 Service Project - The Canteen Ministry
Leonard perfecting the art of making
Milo-peng!
Chloe and Erika, two of our Con 3
reporters, paid a visit to the CDM canteen
last week to find out more about Leonard
Jude Lowe's attachment with the Canteen
Ministry.
Why did you join the Canteen ministry?
Actually, it was my third choice but getting
to enjoy the free food makes it more fun
than I expected!
Do you have to know how to cook to
join?
Have you had a chance to cook so
far?
It's not necessary for volunteers to be
able to cook to join. And no, most of the
cooking are done by the adult members. I
usually take care of the drinks.
What do you hope to achieve in this
attachment?
I hope to get to know my classmates better
and learn to work with other people.
East District Youth Day 2011
Youths recite the Lord's Prayer together.
The bi-annual East District Youth Day
(EDYD), celebrated last Saturday at CDM,
brought together youths from the six East
district parishes. It was a time of prayer
and praise, and the rally encouraged
all who attended to be rooted in Christ
through the Holy Mass, a fundamental of
our faith and the highest form of worship.
"It was a magnificent night! Fr. Lionel
Thomas (a visiting priest from the
Johor-Malacca Diocese) got us to
reflect if we were truly ready for
confirmation. It was an eye-opener!"
– Christine Alcorin, CDM Con 3 attendee
Confirmation 3
Service Project -
the Choral Music Ministry
Our Communications Ministry's Confirmation 3 interns (Chloe and Christine) caught up with Abigail See, who is serving her attachment with the Choral Music Ministry.
Do you feel very nervous about having to sing in front of so many people at Mass?
It's quite okay. Instead of being part of the congregation, I'm now in the choir.
How do you prepare?
We have practice sessions during the week and a warm up before mass. I also do my own practice at home and contemplate how the mass readings bring new meaning to the songs chosen.
Do you have to be musically inclined to join choir?
No, just as long as you can contribute. I feel that each con3 student chooses a ministry in which they can best serve.
Do you feel even closer to God whenever you sing the Gospels?
In serving the congregation and God, you will feel closer to God. It's like you are God's messenger through hymns and songs.
How are the practice sessions? What do you guys do?
We go through basic breathing techniques, warm up the body (our instruments) and work on blending our voices.
Commemorating the Catholic Nurses Guild
The celebration of the Eucharist last Sunday 21 Aug 2011 at 5.30pm witnessed the commemoration of the Catholic Nurses Guild of Singapore (CNG). Established in 1949, it is made up of nurses who strive to uphold technical competence according to Christian moral principles through (a) fostering and promoting professional and spiritual growth of its members; (b) participating in pastoral and community programmes towards the sick, handicapped and the elderly. May the Lord bless these nurses with abundant love in carrying out their works. Do browse the photo galleries for the celebration of the Mass commemorating CNG.
New Ministry Recruitment -
Society of St Vincent de Paul
Inviting parishioners to join the Society of St Vincent de Paul - a new ministry with a social mission and concern for the poor.
The inaugural meeting was held on Friday August 19. Next meeting will be Friday Sep 2 at 8.00 pm - Basement 1 meeting room. Register with the parish secretary (11 am - 7.00 pm): Tel - 6583 3378 or Thomas Tan – 9755 4497.
We are looking for people with accounting skills.
Confirmation 3 Service Project - the Catechist Ministry
The Catechist Ministry interns – Megan
Tham (left) and Sarah Tsing (right). Sarah has been under the mentorship of catechist Matilda Ng, while Megan has been working with Alyson Foong.
This week, the Communications Ministry's
Confirmation 3 interns (Christine and
Erika) caught up with two of their peers
serving the Catechist Ministry.
What made you choose this ministry?
Megan (M): I realised how important the
jobs of the catechists are. I wanted to be
that person. Sarah (S): I wanted to pass on my
knowledge of God.
What are the best aspects of this
ministry? S: Seeing how much the children know
about God is pretty amazing. M: I enjoy bonding with the kids. S: I joined our catechists' retreat* and
learned a lot about the faith. We had lots
of bonding sessions too. M & S: Our mentors are very nice and
motherly!
Is it hard to cope with the demands of
this ministry? M: Not at all. I've been doing lesson
plans, and I prepare spiritually by reading
the Bible.
Will you continue serving in this
ministry? M & S: Yes!
M: Being a catechist has always been
my goal. I will definitely want to continue
serving.
The enthusiasm that these young interns
have for spreading God's word is really an
inspiration to all of us! Let us continue to
pray for all our Confirmation 3 students,
that they may persevere in the remaining
weeks of their service attachment.
The Gift of Faith
Click on image to enlarge
Congratulations to the parents and godparents of the infants who received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday 14 Aug 2011 at the 11.30am Mass. A warm welcome of these little ones into the family of Christ. Photos of the infant baptism can be viewed at the following links.
With the grace of God, 15 volunteers
comprising of musicians, helpers for food,
presenters and line dance instructors
stepped forward to help kick start the
Evergreen Circle.
The launch of the EC was held on
Monday, 1 Aug at 2.30pm at the Parish
Hall. 84 retired and elderly parishioners
joined in the activities. These included
a sing-along of oldies and gospel
songs, Bible knowledge quizzes and a
short video of the well-known speaker
Billy Graham. After a short tea break,
attendees enjoyed line dancing and board
games. The event ended at 5.45 pm.
"The Evergreen Circle was initiated
by the Parish Pastoral Council for
the elderly to do meaningful social,
recreational and spiritual activities.
I hope that the Evergreen Circle
will be a way for us to reach out to
others. Parishioners should bring a
friend along and share our faith!"
- Philip Hee, Chairman of the Evergreen
Circle
The EC is held on the first Monday of
each month. The next session will be on
Monday, 5th Sept, 2:30pm at the Parish
Hall. For more information, please contact
the Parish Office or e-mail evergreen@
divinemercy.sg
Spotlight on ...
The De Cleanse Ministry
Our Communications Ministry interns,
Chloe Tan and Erika Marquez, caught up
with fellow Con 3 teen, James Elicano,
serving in the De Cleanse Ministry – a
group of volunteers who clean our Church.
Why choose De Cleanse for your
Confirmation attachment?
I knew that not many students would
choose to join this ministry, despite it
requiring a lot of help.
How has the experience been so far?
It has been very tiring, as the church itself
is rather large but we get lots of support
from the seniors!
What is the one thing you hope to take
away after your attachment?
I would never again take the church's
cleanliness for granted, considering how
much effort I've put in to clean it.
For more information about the De
Cleanse Ministry, please visit our website
or contact Peter Augustine (96322618) or e-mail dcleanse@divinemercy.sg
Spotlight on... the Children's Liturgy Ministry
The newest ministry in CDM, that of the Children's Liturgy, had its first session on Pentecost Sunday (12 June) this year. This 13-member group aims to help children celebrate the Word of God through liturgy – also known as ritual prayer – that is more appropriate to their level of understanding, in the hope that they will have fuller and more active participation in the Mass when they are older.
With the guidance of adult leaders, the children sing, pray and listen to simplified scriptures from the Children's Bible during the weekly Children's Liturgy session. The homily is interactive and led by the ministry members, and the children recite 'child-friendly' versions of the Creed and Prayers of the Faithful before coming back to the main church for the Offertory.
Currently, this ministry serves about 130 children, all of whom attend the session during the Sunday 11.30am Mass. They hope to start a session for the 9am Mass too, but are in need of volunteers. As ministry coordinators,Leonard and Joan Freeman, say, "a willing heart and open mind" is all that is needed. Contact them at 96509616 or email childrenliturgy@divinemercy.sg if you would like to learn more about this wonderful ministry.
Children are led from the main church to the chapel by an adult Ministry member after the opening hymn is sung.
Interview with the 'interns'
Ministry members and their children pose for a picture with the Confirmation 3 teens attached to the group.
Our Communications Ministry's interns, Christine Alcorin and Chloe Tan, caught up with two fellow Con 3 teens serving in the Children's Liturgy Ministry.
Q: Why did you choose this Ministry for your attachment?
Deah: I like children!
John: I feel like it's good for youth to reach out to kids.
Q: What do you hope to achieve during/after your attachment?
Deah: Let the kids feel God's love. Children can be really difficult to handle, but I hope to be a more patient person after this attachment.
John: I want to serve the Church more.
Children's Liturgy - Let the children come to me
At the 11.30am Mass every Sunday, members from the Children's Liturgy Ministry will gather the little ones into the Chapel for the Breaking of the Word. On this occasion, the Children's Liturgy Ministry members were joined by the Confirmation 3 youths, who as part of their Service Project in preparation for their Confirmation, engaged the tiny tots in prayer and hymns...planting little seeds of Faith. Come! Let the little children come to me.
Click HERE to read the National Day Message from our Archbishop Nicholas Chia
Confirmation 3 Service Project - Communications Ministry
Last Sunday, the CDM Communications Ministry (divided into the Communications, Photography and Multimedia teams) met with the 11 Confirmation 3 students who had signed up with them as part of their service project. The students were given a warm welcome to the Ministry, introduced to its various members, and sorted into various sub-groups. The students were encouraged to share about their interests and talents, and brainstormed with existing members about how they could contribute to the Ministry during their attachment.
David Wong (far left) explaining some of his Ministry responsibilities to Nathaniel, Zachery and Daryl, Con 3 students who had signed up for the Multimedia team.
Members of the Communications Ministry – some old, some new.
Voices from the students…
Q: Why did you choose photography/web-multimedia for your service project? Daryl: I have a deep interest in technology and I hope to learn more about web development. Zachery: I have an interest in photography. I also feel that I am able to contribute my skills in flash-programming to this ministry.
Q: What do you hope to gain from this attachment? Daryl: I just hope to learn as much as I can. Zachery: I would like to revise my web-skills and gain some photography skills. These would be useful in building websites for school as well as personal use.
SOME WORDS TO PONDER...
"So take my five loaves and
two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and my inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
No gift is too small..."
These poignant lines, which form the concluding verse of local Catholic singer-songwriter Corrinne May's song "Five Loaves and Two Fishes", are an apt reflection for us this weekend. As the Confirmation 3 teens of our parish bravely step forward into their service projects, should we not also look at how we can use our talents to do the work of God in our families, workplaces and church?
World Youth Day (WYD) is a great
meeting of young people from all
over the world to celebrate and learn
about their faith. Each WYD, the Pope
himself calls together youth from all
over the world, chooses the theme,
and delivers a message explaining its
significance.
The upcoming WYD will take place
in Madrid, Spain on August 16-21,
2011.
An estimated 300,000 people attended
the first World Youth Day, held in Rome in
1984. This year's event will undoubtedly
draw the largest number of spectators in
the event's history.
Individuals can make a "virtual
pilgrimage" to the WYD from the comfort
of their homes! Check out either www. virtualworldyouthday.org,
or the Facebook
Application and Fan Page, and create
an avatar for your virtual pilgrimage.
The Facebook Fan Page will have live
video and Twitter feeds, blogs and photo
uploads.
In Singapore, a Commissioning Mass
was celebrated by Archbishop Nicholas
Chia at the Cathedral of Good Shepherd,
on Friday, July 22 for our youth going
to Madrid. Let us pray for our youth
attending WYD that they will indeed be "Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm
in the faith" (cf. Col 2:7)
Confirmation 3 Service Project
Dust Busters – Con3 students of 2010 attached to the De Cleanse Ministry
The 9-weeks service project is from
18 July till 18 Sept. This service
project aims to allow our teens
to understand and experience
the meaning of service through
ministry involvement. Amongst the
ministries involved are the Canteen,
Catechist, Children's Liturgy, Choir,
De Cleanse, Hospitality, Lectors
and Communications.
We do hope that our teens
will continue serving in the
ministries after their confirmation
in November. Let us pray for
and encourage them during this
journey.
National Day Message
Click HERE to read the National Day Message from our Archbishop Nicholas Chia
The RCPM (Roman Catholic Prison Ministry) began Prisons Week (10 July - 16 July 2011) with the celebration of a Mass at Church of Divine Mercy on Sunday 10 July 2011. The aim was to create an awareness of the mission of RCPM and also to pray for ex-offenders. Exhibition panels showcased the early history of RCPM and its mission.
The team from SANA also gave an insight on the danger of drug abuse through its display of exhibits. The Mass at 11.30am was celebrated by Archbishop Nicholas Chia with Fr Johnson and Fr Ignatius as con-celebrants. We are called to pray and facilitate the reintegration of ex-offenders back into society and more importantly...into the family of Christ. ~ When I was in prison, you visited me
Last Sunday, CDM hosted the Roman
Catholic Prisons Ministry's special Mass
with the theme "Sow with Compassion
and Love". The Mass, part of the
Prisons Week 2011 programme, was
celebrated by Archbishop Nicholas
Chia. An exhibition was also held to
create more awareness of the RCPM,
SANA and the Singapore Prison's
initiatives.
"I joined
RCPM
after being
inspired
by priest's
sharing. It's
not easy to
see the "fruits" of our work but
one must trust the workings of the
Spirit. Compassion and love are
most important. By accompanying
the prisoners, I have learnt
acceptance, patience, being nonjudgmental
and giving people time
to heal and reform."
– Patricia Tan (left
in photo) is in her 7th year with RCPM.
A Gift for Our Inquirers
Inquirers, accompanied by their
sponsors, received the Holy Bible from
Fr. Johnson.
Bible Sunday last week was rather
special for our inquirers. They were
formally introduced to their sponsors,
who will journey with them throughout
their RCIA. The highlight however
was the gift of the Holy Bible to each
inquirer. Let us continue to pray for the
inquirers, sponsors and the RCIA team,
that the Spirit will reveal Himself to
them through the Holy Word.
Infant Baptism
Click image to enlarge
Four infants were baptized last Sunday at
the 5.30pm mass. Congratulations to the
families!
More photos for the Roman
Catholic Prison Week Mass, Lector
Commissioning, Infant Baptism
(including a video shoot), and other
Parish events are available at
www.divinemercy.sg
Lector Recruitment
Click image to enlarge
Congratulations to our lectors who were
commissioned last Sunday. Come join us!
17 July, lectors will serve
local breakfast as well as dishes from
around the world in the canteen. Come
enjoy the food and chat with us.
Bible Sunday
Every year the Church designates one Sunday as Bible Sunday, which serves to remind and encourage Catholics to read and reflect on the Bible. When you read the Bible, you read a message from God Himself. Because the Bible is God's Word, it does more than just pass on information. It makes a promise, a promise of life. Everyone who receives the Bible's message in faith is promised the rich gift of eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is in the Bible that we find moral guidance of the Church's teachings, inspiration, comfort and blessings. It is a living book that speaks to people's hearts in every time and place.
Lector Commissioning
On this Bible Sunday, the Lector Ministry will renew their commission to proclaim the Scriptures during Mass. May the Lord continue to bless the lectors in serving their Ministry.
Becoming a Lector
As a new member of the parish of the Divine Mercy, I felt quite alone, especially in a sea of unfamiliar faces (I am the only Catholic in my family).
It must have been God's providence that one Sunday I read in the church bulletin a call for lectors. I responded to this call and have not looked back since. The ministry has provided me with the privilege of proclaiming God's Word at Mass and our weekly meetings have given me greater insight into the scriptures.
The camaraderie among the lectors is very strong.
"I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly" Psalm 111:1
By: Dolly Lim
Appreciating our Beautiful Parish
Last Sunday, our inquirers were treated to a tour of our parish as part of their RCIA programme. Br. Benedict gamely brought the group through the various features of our Church and the special meaning behind them. He also gave particular attention to explaining the sanctity of the Eucharist. Our inquirers found out that there are different classes of relics and were intrigued by the collar bone relic of St. Faustina placed within the altar. This led them to ask further questions about the Church's features, symbols, sacraments and traditions, and it was an informative session for all.
World Day of Prayer for Priests
July 1 marked both the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and
the World Day of Prayer for Priests. Just a few days before that,
on the Feast Day of Sts. Peter and Paul, Pope Benedict XVI
celebrated the personal milestone of his 60th anniversary of
ordination to the priesthood. (Closer to home, Monsignor Francis
Lau celebrated his 50th year as a priest on the same day!)
The Vatican Congregation for Clergy has suggested that the
Church mark the World Day of Prayer for Priests by praying for
the sanctification of the clergy and for the gift of new priestly
vocations. Let us take some time off this weekend to pray for our
local priests and seminarians, that that the light of Christ may
continue to strengthen and shine through them.
Eucharistic Adoration and
Divine Mercy Devotion
Parishioners kneel before the Blessed Sacrament in quiet prayer and adoration.
As part of last Sunday's Corpus
Christi celebrations, hourly Eucharistic
Adoration and Divine Mercy devotions
were held in CDM. These special times of prayer allowed many to come together in worship, meditating and reflecting on the presence of God in the Holy Eucharist.
Does Zeal for God's House
Consume You?
Litter at our Prayer Garden
It's easy to take the cleanliness of our
church for granted, but let us remember
that CDM is not just any public gathering
place. This building functions as a House
of the Lord, and should be treated as
such. How then can we act with greater
reverence when in church?
"Our Blessed Pope John Paul II reminds
Catholic families that parents are the
first and most important educators of
their children."
–The Wisdom of John Paul II
Parents, how can we be more effective
educators of our children on the way to
conduct ourselves in God's House?
The Great Bible Adventure
"The Great Bible Adventure" kicked off
on Wed, 22 June, in CDM's St Faustina
Room. About 30 participants, many of
whom were neophytes during the 2010-
11 RCIA, attended the first session of this
8-week Bible course, which will cover an
overview of the Bible from Genesis to the
Acts of the Apostles.
« Participants jotted down many informative notes from the session.
Confirmation Camp
Con 3 students listening attentively to each
other during a sharing session.
Our Confirmation 3 teens attended a camp
themed "For the Win" from 16 to 18 June.
The camp was organized by Youth For
Christ (YFC) and was filled with enriching
activities and sessions that allowed them
to personally encounter the Lord. They are
all now spirit-filled and excited to embark
on the last few months of preparation to
receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Let us continue to pray for them.
A Chat with Br Benedict Chng
"I've been
very touched
by the many
heartwarming
and prayerful
people here..."
Many of you may have seen Br. Benedict around our parish. Br. Ben
is currently in his 7th year of formation and is serving at CDM as part
of his pastoral attachment before he completes his seminary training
in Dec 2012.
Tell us more about your pastoral attachment at CDM.
This year, my pastoral exposure entails involvement in the Catechist
Ministry. I'm currently involved with the primary catechism classes
which run on Sunday mornings, and that's why most of you would
have seen me around during that time. I'll be here till November.
What strikes you most about CDM?
I've been very touched by the many heartwarming and prayerful
people here, as well as the dedication of the laity. I've noticed their
generosity and charity towards building a better community both in
and out of the weekend and daily Masses.
Other thoughts?
"Man's ways lead to hopeless ends. God's ways lead to endless hope."
Feast of Corpus Christi
"Corpus Christi" means "body of Christ"
in Latin, and is intended to commemorate
the institution of the Holy Eucharist.
CDM will celebrate this special feast by
having the exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament after the Sun 11.30am Mass.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is
open to all, and there will also be hourly
prayers and reflections led by the various
ministries at 12.45pm, 1.45pm, 2.45pm
and 3.45pm. At 4.30pm, the Chaplet of
Divine Mercy will be recited and followed
by the Benediction. Evening Mass will be
at 5.30pm as usual.
Welcoming our Neophytes
Click on image to enlarge
Our neophytes (newly-baptized) celebrated Pentecost, with a thanksgiving Mass last Sunday evening, which also marked the end of the time of "mystagogia", a Greek word meaning "education in the mysteries." The celebrations continued with fellowship, where they received their certificates from Fr. Johnson. We caught up with Kenneth Hee, a neophyte, who joined the new RCIA team, on "what's next" for them.
Kenneth (in striped shirt) together with other neophytes and sponsors, celebrating the completion of their final phase of their RCIA
"Some have signed up for a 12-week Bible study, to continue to discover Scripture. About 10 of us decided to join the RCIA team, to journey with the new group. Others will discern where and how they would like to be involved in the parish community."
"My RCIA experience had been very special and I gained so much from the RCIA (team). After baptism, I decided to join as a team member, to contribute my time and experience, so that the new inquirers too can have this same experience."
Let us continue to pray for them as they integrate into our parish and the larger Church. May they be touched by the Spirit to discover their gifts and talents, and the continuing call to grow in the love of God.
Choir Workshop
Last Saturday, 130 choir members from CDM and other parishes attended an enriching workshop by Theresa Lim on the role of a music ministry.
Organist Needed
The Choral Music Ministry is looking for organists for the 9am and 11.30am choir. Training will be provided. If you are above 16 years, have a background in music and are committed and willing to learn, do contact Gloria on 81610749.
The Gift of Faith - Sunday 14 June 2011
Congratulations to the parents and godparents whose infants were baptised last Sunday. The parish community welcome these little ones into the family of Christ.
For photo request, kindly send an email to photography@divinemercy.sg and indicate the photo serial number(s).
« Click on photo to enlarge
Tribute to Fathers
God, our Father, loves us deeply and unconditionally. To show His love for us, He sent His only Son, who came down as Man, suffered and died for us. On this Father's Day, we pray for all fathers, who have loved us unconditionally.
Vincent Yong, who serves as a lector and helps out in the RCIA programme, is also a doting grandfather of two grandsons; 6 years and 7 months old.
«Vincent with his godson, Arnold.
How do you see your role as a grandfather?
Being a Catholic grandfather gives me the opportunity to share the faith and the value of living with my grandsons. Grandparents can complement the parents in building a strong faith foundation at a young age.
What are the challenges faced by parents in bringing up children in this generation?
Society is too liberal these days and the danger of relativism threatens our faith. Children are also more exposed to the social media, and this needs to be controlled. Thus it is important for parents and grandparents to live their family life grounded firmly in the faith, as this would serve as a model for the children to follow as they grow up.
A Happy Father's Day to all fathers!
May God keep them in good health and bless them a hundred-fold..
Feast of Pentecost
The Holy Spirit descends as flames of fire.
Pentecost is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian liturgical year. Red, the liturgical colour for this great feast, recalls the tongues of flames commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection. There are three "mega-festivals" commemorated in the Christian calendar. God the Father's wonderful Christmas gift of His one and only Son; Christ's Easter triumph over the power of sin, death; and the devil would be of no benefit to us if the Holy Spirit did not give us the gift of saving faith. Through the Word and Sacraments, the Holy Spirit gives us the faith to believe and trust in Christ as our Saviour. Let us celebrate this great feast, and pray that the fiery tongues may fill us with faith to proclaim the words which purify, transform, and unify.
45th World Communications Sunday
The 5.30pm Mass last Sunday was celebrated by Archbishop Nicholas Chia to commemorate World Communications Sunday. The mass concluded with a speech by the Archdiocese's new Director of Communications, Joan O'Reilly Fix (left), on new initiatives of the Communication office in establishing a comprehensive communications platform for the Archdiocese. Both the Archbishop and the Director of Communications acknowledged the vital role social media plays in communication today and how each one of us can play a part in spreading our Faith through this.
Catechist Ministry Canteen Day
RCIA 2011/2012
A very warm welcome to the Inquirers who attended the introductory session of RCIA 2011/2012. Perhaps there are questions, doubts, apprehension, uncertainty that went through their minds. May the Holy Spirit guide them in this journey of faith.
"May you grasp what is true and important, conveying honest messages with integrity, and may you discern with eyes of faith, using your communication skills to enlighten and educate the community in Christian values and teachings. Today, we are all communicators in one way or another. Whether in our business or personal lives, we are afforded opportunities each day to convey positive messages and promote Christian values." - A paragraph from Archbishop Nicholas Chia's message on World Communications Sunday. A moment for reflection - Have we communicated the Good News to others around us in the way we live our lives?
In his message for this year, Pope Benedict
XVI affirms that new social media has
caused a "cultural transformation" and
provided unprecedented opportunities
for establishing connections and building
fellowship. These new technologies
must serve the "integral good of the
individual and the whole of humanity",
so that in fulfilling our human desires for
"relationship, communion and meaning"
through joining such social networks, we
also continue to proclaim the Gospel. Archbishop Nicholas Chia will celebrate
Mass on 5 June at 5.30pm in CDM
to commemorate this occasion.
Refreshments will be served after Mass.
All individuals who work in the field of
communications are invited to attend.
Please RSVP to www.catholic.org.sg/
events
CDM Communications Ministry
We are a '3-in-1' Ministry that ties together
teams working in Communications,
Multimedia and Photography. We aim
to serve as a channel of communication
for our community, providing accurate,
prompt and God-centered information to
our parish community. We also hope to
capture the life of our parish through both
new (multimedia, social media, etc.) and
more traditional (bulletins and newsletters)
forms of media and publicity.
If you too feel called to serve
in this special field of Catholic
communications in our parish,
do contact communication@
divinemercy.sg. We'd love to
hear from you!
One of the
newest members
of the CDM
Communications
Ministry, Jeffrey
Yong, a producer
with the Disney
Channel, is already
eager to contribute to our parish community. We caught up
with him and asked him to share some
thoughts on faith and the media.
How can we use media, and especially
digital media, to proclaim our faith? There are many ways to use digital
media (Facebook, Twitter, blogs,
etc.) to our advantage, but before we
decide on which type to use, we must
look at our "target audience" and see
what would communicate to them in a
relevant, unique and effective manner.
There must also always be a two-way
communication. Proclaiming our faith is
personal and it is vital for the audience to
connect with the right person.
What made you join the
Communications Ministry?
I always wanted to make use of my
talents (editing, producing, directing) for
our Lord and His church in Singapore.
More Catholic iPhone Apps
As a continuation of last week's feature
on Catholic iPhone applications, here is
another useful app to check out.
Answers 4 Catholics
Ever been stumped by a question on our
faith? This app has the answers! Featuring
Bible verses with apologetics notes,
quotes from early Church fathers, as well
as plenty of audio and video clips, you'll
be able to gain a deeper appreciation of
Catholicism and field tough questions.
World Environment Day
Today is also World
Environment Day!
Pope Benedict
XVI has called for
Catholics to take
positive action to
care for Creation, stating that "the Church
has a responsibility towards creation" that
must be asserted in the public sphere.
The Pope also notes that those most
affected by climate change are the poor,
and it is always our duty as Catholics to
help and protect the poor.
As a response to the plea of His Holiness,
here are some suggestions for you and
your family to take up to better care for the
world that God has blessed us with.
Engage your children in caring for
our environment, through simple
measures such as reducing plastic
bag consumption when out shopping,
or turning off water or electricity
sources when not in use at home.
Light Up Your Life
The fully-lit "candles"
You may have noticed a new addition to
our church, below the mosaic of the Divine
Mercy. These 130+ LED candle-lights were
designed and built by CDM catechists Alan
and Luke and can be lit up by inserting a
coin and pressing a lighted button.
The candle-light with the letter 'M' for
Mercy is permanently lit, while the rest
of the lights are activated individually
when a coin is inserted. Each "candle"
will be lit up for an hour once activated.
Try it yourselves, and remember to say
a prayer as you light up these beautiful
"candles".
Catholic iPhone Apps
With the growing prevalence of iPhone
usage, the Church and her people have
kept up with the times by developing
a wide variety of Catholic iPhone
applications (better known as "apps") that
can be downloaded easily. These apps can
be used for quick reference, as mediums
for evangelization, and even as part of
our daily prayer while on-the-go. As part
of our World Communications Sunday
preparations, the CDM Communications
Team has put together a small list of
interesting Catholic apps that will be
featured in this and next week's bulletins.
Enjoy!
Going Green
Did you know
that we not only
commemorate World
Communications Sunday next weekend, but World
Environment Day too? During a 2001 US Conference of Catholic
Bishops on global climate change, "the
future of God's creation ... [and] our
human stewardship of God's creation and
our responsibility to those generations
who will succeed us" was discussed.
Ten years on, how much has our attitude
toward the environment changed?
Do spend some time reflecting on
what you and your family can do to 'go
green'. You may also want to check
out the St. Francis Pledge to Care
for Creation and the Poor at www.
CatholicClimateConvenant.org.
Evangelizo
Evangelizo is a
lectionary-based
daily reflection run
by an international
team of lay Catholics
who wish to spread
the Gospel. The
reflections are based
on the writings of the
Church Fathers, the
Divine Mercy
Provided by the Marians of the
Immaculate Conception (the Vaticanappointed
institute to promote the Divine
Mercy), this app offers an in-depth study
of the development of the Divine Mercy
devotion. It also features the Chaplet with
a 'movable' rosary to aid in prayer and
meditation.
Saints, or the Magisterium. Evangelizo
also provides a historical background of
each day's Saint.
Divine Mercy
Provided by the Marians of the
Immaculate Conception (the Vaticanappointed
institute to promote the Divine
Mercy), this app offers an in-depth study
of the development of the Divine Mercy
devotion. It also features the Chaplet with
a 'movable' rosary to aid in prayer and
meditation.
The Gift of Faith
Click on image to enlarge
Congratulations to the parents and godparents who celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism of their child on Sun 15 May 2011. You can browse through the photos at the following links:-
In honour of the 45th World
Communications Sunday (WCS),
Archbishop Chia will celebrate a special
Mass on 5 June, 5:30pm at Church of
Divine Mercy to highlight the important role
of Catholics in Communications. The Mass
will be followed by light refreshments and
an opportunity for networking.
The Pope's theme for this year's WCS is
Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life
in the Digital Age.
We cordially invite those in the field
of communications and media (e.g.
broadcasting, journalism, public relations,
advertising, education etc.) to attend the
special Mass with your families. You will
have an opportunity to network after Mass
over light refreshments at our canteen.
Many of you may already have noticed
this banner, featuring the faces of all the
candidates and catechumens who were
baptised this Easter, in our Church lobby.
If you are or know of anyone who would
like to be a part of the new RCIA journey
as an inquirer or sponsor, do come or
invite them to the Introductory Session
on 5 June.
It will be held at 3.30pm in
either St. Faustina's Room or the Parish
Hall.
For enquiries or registration, please
contact the Parish Office or RCIA@
divinemercy.sg
We have compiled the 2010 / 2011
RCIA Journey into a music video!
A vocation is God's unique
invitation addressed to individual
persons. The response that you
give is not a single act, but a
life-long process and a journey of
faith. Above all, everybody has a
call to holiness, and as Christians
we are particularly called to love
God and our neighbours.
An Interview with Fr Bel San Luis
You may have met
the friendly Fr. Bel
San Luis, a Filipino
priest who was
specially invited to
CDM to preside over
our 9-day Feast Day
celebrations. Fr. Bel pr eached at daily
Masses for about a week, and many of
us enjoyed the humorous anecdotes that
spiced up his homilies.
How long have you been a priest?
I was ordained on 18 September 1971.
Wow! This marks your 40th year as a
priest then. Tell us more about what you
do!
I am from the Society of Divine Word (SVD)
Missionary and I am from Quezon City. The
SVD focuses on missionary work, and aims
to spread the word of God to places where
Christ is not known sufficiently.
What else are you looking forward to
doing in Singapore?
In this short break, I plan to relax a bit and
do some jogging and reading.
We would like to thank Fr. Bel for being a
part of our Feast Day celebrations. Let us
continue to keep him in our prayers.
An Interview with Rei Sanga
It has only been about
2 months since Rei
Sanga joined CDM,
but this dedicated
organist is already
sharing his talents
in our Choral Music
Ministry by playing at
our Sunset Masses.
How long have you been serving in the
Music Ministry?
I have been involved with Music
Ministries since I was a child! When I
came to Singapore, I first started playing
at Novena Church, then Holy Trinity and
now, CDM.
What keeps you serving?
God has given me this talent and I feel
that it is only right that I use it to serve
and praise Him. It is truly fulfilling.
How much time commitment is
required?
Not much. We practice about 2 hours
before Mass, and every Wednesday, we
have a combined choir session.
Any message for those who are
thinking about joining the Ministry?
It does require practice, perseverance
and patience, but if God has given you
the talent, it should be used. Pray about
it!
The CDM Choral Music Ministry is on the
look-out for more organists. See Page 3
for more information.
Say yes to God's
call today.
Double Celebrations at CDM!
We celebrated our Feast of Divine Mercy
on Sunday 1st May 2011 after a week of
Divine Mercy Novenas and preaching by
Fr. Bel San Luis. A special Mass was also
celebrated by our Archbishop, Nicholas
Chia, to commemorate the Beatification of
Pope John Paul II.
Feast Day Dinner @
Bliss Garden Restaurant
Sporting parishioners sang and danced
the night away
Archbishop Nicholas Chia blessing the relic
and the "shrine" of Pope John Paul II
Roses
arranged
to form the
words "Jesus
I Trust in You"
decked our
DM mosaic
Thank You!
To all those involved in the feast day Masses, devotions and thanksgiving dinner celebrations
DIVINE MERCY FEAST DAY
The parish community of Church of Divine Mercy celebrated the Feast of Divine Mercy on Sunday 1st May 2011. Archbishop Nicholas Chia was the main celebrant at the 5.30pm Mass and it was followed by a dinner with much fun and laughter at Bliss Garden Restaurant. This day also marks the inaugural issue of CDM's parish newsletter called D'vine. In the magazine, you will find the many memorable moments that transpired since the first Mass that was celebrated in CDM on 12 Dec 2009. Wishing all parishioners of CDM a Happy Feast Day. Here are some photolinks capturing the memorable occasion.
The weeks of preparation during the Lenten season culminated in the celebration of Easter last weekend. Our parish community at Church of Divine Mercy warmly welcome the newly baptised infants and adults into the family of Christ during this Easter celebrations. Photolinks are available below for your viewing on the various celebrations held over the weekend.
For photo requests, email to: photography@divinemercy.sg indicating the album name, photo serial number.
Wishing you a Holy Easter.
Maundy Thursday...
Good Friday...
Fr. Ignatius washes the feet of various Ministry members during the Mass.
A child kneels to venerate the cross during the Good Friday Service.
The Primary 6 students in our parish, under the guidance of their catechists, put up a short Passion play during the children's Good Friday Services.
...Easter virgil
Fr. Johnson starts off the Easter Vigil, the first official celebration of Christ's Resurrection, by lighting the Paschal candle.
Celebrating a New Birth
It was a time of great joy for our 53 elect and candidates as they came into full communion with the Church through their baptism at the Easter Vigil Mass. "I feel like I have a new life, a new me, and that I'm starting afresh through my new relationship with God", said one of the elect, Seraphina. Another elect, Marrisa, agreed. "Being baptised is an unbelievable feeling. I'm looking forward to Catholic life."
Welcome to the Family!
The celebrations continued on Easter Sunday, when 20 infants were baptised as well.
HE is RISEN
The weeks of preparation during the Lenten season culminated in the celebration of Easter last weekend. Our parish community at Church of Divine Mercy warmly welcome the newly baptised infants and adults into the family of Christ during this Easter celebrations. Photolinks are available below for your viewing on the various celebrations held over the weekend.
For photo requests, email to: photography@divinemercy.sg indicating the album name, photo serial number.
Wishing you a Holy Easter.
The Sunday of the Lord's Resurrection
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
(1 Peter 1: 3 – 4)
The feast of Easter is the centre of the liturgical year and marks the end of Lent. More importantly, Easter commemorates the triumphant resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion. Christ's death and resurrection ensures that we who have been baptized will rise again on the Last Day, and this belief forms the foundation of our Faith.
Divine Mercy Feast Day
As part of our feast day celebrations, there will be a 9-day DM Novena starting on Good Friday.
Host : Nicole and Magdalene
Contact Nicole (9845 9286) Venue : Blk 710, Pasir Ris St 72, #02-69
Days 4 to 8 (Mon-Fri): Main Church. 7.30pm: Novena to the Divine Mercy 8pm: Mass and preaching by Fr. Bel San Luis, a Divine Word Missionary from the Philippines.
Day 9 (Sat): Main Church. 5pm: DM Novena followed by usual Sunset Mass at 5:30pm and preaching by Fr. Bel San Luis.
On Sunday, 1 May, there will be the recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 8:30am / 11am and 2.30pm followed by Mass at 9am / 11:30am and 3pm respectively. The 3pm Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Jacob Ong, CSsR. There will also be a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Nicholas Chia at 5.30pm, to commemorate the beatification of Pope John Paul II at the Vatican on this same day. There is also a "travelling exhibition" on our late Pope which will kick off at Church of the Divine Mercy on 1st May. Enjoy!
2011 Primary-Level Divine Mercy Project
On 16 April, the Catechists Ministry brought our Primary children and their parents together for this year's Divine Mercy project. The group gathered to pray, sing, and watch a short video on the Divine Mercy chaplet. Together with their parents, the children made their very own chaplets and finished off the afternoon by reciting the Divine Mercy by using their new chaplets! Everyone had a great time together bonding with each other!
Mum and daughter work together to complete a beautiful chaplet.
The joy and sense of triumph that marked the first Palm Sunday did not last for long. Shortly after this great celebration of his ministry, Jesus knew that the hour had come for the Son of Man to be glorified (Jn 12: 23) and he began his journey to the cross.
Holy Week is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter. It includes Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem in the days before His Passion, and we mark this day by distributing palm leaves. HolyThursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles while Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is a day of fasting and abstinence. On this day, we contemplate the cost at which Christ won our redemption.
Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.
(Luke 23:46)
The Secret of Fasting
As members of the new covenant that Jesus made with us, we should no longer fast because of destruction and tragedy, but because we want to construct and fulfil something new in our lives. Jesus led by example through fasting for 40 days before He began His public ministry. (Mt 4:2)
Pope John Paul II has taught: "Let us therefore discover anew the humility and the courage to pray and fast so that power from on high will break down the walls of lies and deceit" (Gospel of Life, 100).
Confirmation Lenten Night
Last Saturday, our confirmation 1 to 3 teens were led by their Catechists to reflect on the 14 Stations of the Cross.
At the Foot of the Cross
Last Saturday, our confirmation 1 to 3 teens were led by their Catechists to reflect on the 14 Stations of the Cross.
Have you responded?
CDM Parish Assembly 2011
19 Feb (Sat), 9am - 3pm | Church of Divine Mercy
"He must increase; I must decrease."– John 3:30
Last week, we announced the date of our first Parish Assembly, but the take-up rate has been slow.
In today's Gospel, John the Baptist says, "Now I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God." John lived his whole life testifying to the truth of Jesus' message, and centered his life's work on Christ and not himself. While this may be an ideal, let us take the first step by becoming involved with our parish! Come take part in our Parish Assembly. Come serve on the Parish Pastoral Council.
Registration form for the assembly can be obtained from the Parish Office or you can register online HERE. For enquiries, please call the Parish Office or e-mail cdmvision@divinemercy.sg
Congrats!
Seven newborns were baptised last Sunday at the 11.30am mass. The infants were:
•
Dylan Kaiden Papa Duran
•
Faith Tabitha See
•
Mark Angelo Aquio Arcedera
•
Samuel Loh Ming Shao
•
Aadren Macarious Wales
•
Natalie Faith Vargese
•
Jordan Yuen Hao Ze
Congratulations to the parents and godparents!
Gift Shop's New Location
The Gifts and Blessings shop has been "upgraded" to the mezzanine level, near the lift. This will be its permanent location. We look forward to your continued support!
Feast of the Baptism of our Lord
The Baptism of Our Lord in the Jordan River by John the Baptist is commemorated on 9 Jan. This feast, which closes the Christmas season, Jesus was made manifest, as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world, when the Spirit came down as a dove from heaven and remained upon the Lord.
Baptism Congratulations!
Congratulations to the parents and godparents of our 7 infants who will be baptised this Sunday at the 11.30am Mass, on such a significant occasion, the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. These infants have received the most beautiful and precious gift of a new life in Jesus!
CDM'S PARISH ASSEMBLY
YOU ARE INVITED!
CDM Parish Assembly 2011
19 Feb (Sat), 9am - 3pm
Parish Hall
•
To play a role in making CDM more vibrant
•
To share your views and suggestions on any issues which concern our Church and our parishioners
•
To participate in the mission of the parish even if you are not involved in any parish ministry by being in the Parish Pastoral Council
The change on Sunday is meant to
accommodate our children attending
catechism class. The new time enables
the students to effectively have one solid
hour of lesson. Weekday evening Mass
time change is to allow more working
parishioners to attend Mass.
Christmas Celebration @ CDM
Children's Christmas Mass
Our second Christmas at CDM was
another beautiful celebration, which
started on 24 Dec with the Children's
Christmas Mass. The Confirmation 1 and
2 teens, dressed in costumes handmade
by their catechists, joined the Hospitality
Ministry in ushering the children to their
seats, creating a great festive atmosphere
before the Mass. Later, they surprised the
parishioners with a play of the Nativity
story. Christmas presents were distributed
to the children after Mass as a way of
spreading the joy and good cheer.
Christmas Cantata and
Midnight Mass
Click to Enlarge
Half an hour before the midnight
Christmas Mass, CDM's Choral Music
Ministry, in collaboration with the Via
Christus Choir of St Anne's Church, got
the parishioners into a Christmas mood
with their beautiful voices during their
Christmas cantata entitled "Emmanuel
Has Come".
During the midnight mass, Father
Ignatius reminded us to not be
consumed with the shopping and getting
stressed up with meaningless activities
during Christmas. Jesus is the perfect
gift for everyone and His return is for our
salvation. Alleluia!
"Shepherds" and "Angels" posed for
pictures behind the scenes. (Click to Enlarge)
Anniversary Blessings!
Everyone felt the love at last Sunday's
11am Mass, when 26 couples celebrated
their 5th, 10th, 15th, etc (in multiples
of five years) anniversaries. Many were
seen holding hands and gazing warmly
at each other as they came forward to
receive a special blessing. Of the group,
Mr and Mrs Michael and Margaret Ho,
who celebrated their 55th anniversary,
were married the longest!
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge
"We felt
honoured to
receive the
Anniversary
blessing. It was
very meaningful
to repeat the
marriage vows
that we made on
26 Dec 1960."
- Mr. Ee Boon Lee, who celebrated his
50th wedding anniversary with his wife
Mina that very day.
SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD (1 JAN) & FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY (2 JAN)
On 1 Jan, we celebrate the Solemnity
of Mary Mother of God. This feast
commemorates the divine motherhood
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and is a time
when we honour Mary, who was chosen
among all women throughout history to
bear God incarnate.
We wish all our parishioners a very
happy and blessed New Year! May
2011 be a time of peace and love
in your hearts and homes.
"The Lord and ruler is
coming; kingship is his, and
government and power."
The Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated
on Jan 2 this year, brings to perfect
fulfillment all the purposes of Advent.
The young Messiah is revealed as the
light of all nations, and like the Magi, we
are called to come and adore Him. After
all, the news of Christmas is too good to
put away for another year.
New Mass Times for 2011
The following will take effect from 1 Jan.
Mass Times
Sunset: 5:30pm
Sunday: 7am, 9am, 11:30am, 5.30pm
Weekday: 6.30 am and 6.15pm
Novena to the Divine Mercy
1st Sat of the month, 4:45pm, main
Church
The change on Sunday is meant to
accommodate our children attending
catechism class. The new time enables
the students to effectively have one solid
hour of lesson. Weekday evening Mass
time change is to allow more working
parishioners to attend Mass.
Have a Meaningful Christmas!
We all know that Christmas is about loving and giving, but has this simple message sunk into our hearts? This time around, why not try to spread the love that Christ has brought into the world by reconciling with the people in your lives, and doing acts of goodwill toward others? For it is only then that we can experience true peace and joy in our hearts.
Feast of the Holy Family
Statues of the Holy Family at our new grotto.
The Feast of the Holy Family is traditionally celebrated on the 1st Sunday after Christmas, and is to honour the familial unit of Jesus, his mother the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his foster father St. Joseph. On this day, the Holy Family is presented as the model for all Christian families, and we are urged to sanctify our own families by making Christ the centre of our domestic lives.
This simple place where Our Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph stand was designed by our parishioner, Mrs Delia Tang, who was inspired to beautify the unused area in front of our church.
Baptism of Children & Teens
Click to enlarge
20 children and teens were baptised at a special Mass last Saturday. These young people had been preparing themselves since July for this sacrament, through weekly "Focus" classes aimed at providing basic faith instruction. We would like to welcome them into our family, and thank the catechists who worked so tirelessly to prepare them for their big day, and who even helped sing in the choir for that Mass.
Visitors to CDM
Click to enlarge
Six visitors from China's Gansu Provincial religious bureau, accompanied by Venerable Yan Xu Shi from the Buddhist Lodge, visited CDM on Dec 22.
This visit was part of an inter-faith tour to various religious institutions in Singapore, and they received a warm reception at our Church.
CDM 2010 Christmas Schedules
Penitential Service
21 Dec, Tuesday, 8pm
Christmas Eve
24 Dec, Friday
8:30pm Children's Mass & Pageant
11:30pm Christmas Carols
12mn Midnight Christmas Mass
Christmas Day*
25 Dec, Saturday
9am; 11am; 5:30pm
Holy Family*
26 Dec, Sunday
7am, 9am, 11am and 5.30pm
*Days of Obligation. The evening Mass of Christmas Day does not fulfill the Sunday Obligation
Congratulations!
Our parish community bid a warm welcome to the infants baptised on Sunday 12th Dec 2010. Congratualation to the parents and godparents.
Father Johnson welcoming parishioners as at our first Mass on 12 Dec 2009.
It was not too long ago, on 12 Dec last year, we opened our Church doors and celebrated our first Mass with so much joy and gratitude! Happy birthday CDM! Let us thank our good Lord for guiding us throughout this one year and may we continue to grow in the love of Christ in the coming years. Special thanks to parish priests, Father Johnson and Father Ignatius for their faith in us and for believing in our dreams for the Church. We wish them good health and the strength they need to continue guiding our community.
4th Sunday of Advent
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, the focus is on "Love". It reminds Christians that God loves us enough to send his only Son to Earth and that Jesus comes to bring peace to both the world and to people's hearts. We light this candle today to remind us that God is love and that the light of Christ surrounds and fills us at all times. There is no greater power than love. As Christmas draws closer, let us pray that our hearts and minds be filled with loving expectancy on the promise of Christ's coming.
A Big Thank You from the CMM
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The CMM spiced up their delicious food with a small performance in the canteen!
The Choral Music Ministry (CMM) would like to extend their thanks to the parishioners who so generously supported their canteen effort last Sunday. The respective Ministries will serve the community at the canteen again next year, so stay tuned for more goodies!
A Christmas Festival of Choirs
Eight groups from "scared to secular" choirs delighted the guests with a rousing performance.
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We would like to thank all those involved in last Sunday's concert for making the evening a memorable one for everyone. Special thanks also to our guests and parishioners for supporting the concert and for their generous donations. A total of $11,300 was raised for our beneficiary, Casa de Produção Audiovisual. This will certainly go a long way towards improving the literacy rates of children in Timor Leste.
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Singers from the Temasek Polytechnic Chorale got the audience singing with their rendition of "Say a Little Prayer".
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CDM Sunday Evening choir, in their Filipino wear belted out Christian songs in Filipino.
Like Lent, Advent is a penitential season and the priest wears purple vestments to signify this. However, on Gaudete Sunday, which marks the midpoint of the season, the Church lifts the mood and this is symbolised by the priest wearing rose-coloured vestments.
This spirit of joy encourages us to continue with our spiritual preparation for Christmas, and we thank God for the joy that He pours into our hearts.
Theology of the Body for Teens
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About 25 youths from the Con 3 class attended a two-day workshop on the Theology of the Body conducted by their catechists. The catechists shared their Christian beliefs and values on topics such as original sin, redemption in Christ, and dating with the teens.
Catechist Gloria had this to say about her experience conducting the workshop: "We hope to pass our Christian values to the young ones as they move on with their lives as confirmed adult Catholics. It was a good learning experience for all of us, and we hope to continue with this effort".
Thank You, Brothers
Br. Terence also officially finished his pastoral attachment at our parish last Sunday.
Br. Martin received his "official" farewell last Sunday. About 80 members from various ministries hosted a luncheon for him at the canteen, comlete with live music, dancing and singing by Br. Martin! Br. Martin will leave for Penang on Tuesday (7 Dec). We wish him well and will continue to pray for him.
"My pastoral attachment at CDM has given me the privilege to experience the starting up of a new parish. I have met many passionate youths and catechists who give their time and energy unselfishly to help our young ones encounter Christ. I pray that the youth scene in CDM will continue to blossom, and contribute to the vibrancy of the parish."
Thank you Br. Terence for the last 10 months you have spent at CDM. May the good Lord continue to strengthen and inspire you.
Advent @ CDM
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Second Sunday of Advent
The second Sunday of Advent is the Sunday of Peace.Our peace is found in God and in his son, Jesus Christ. John the Baptist, and all the prophets remind us, that to receive peace we must be prepared for it.
"Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'" (Matt3:4)
Fun Facts about Our Advent Wreath
•
We have three Advent wreaths in our Church. Can you locate them? (Ask our priests or the wardens!)
•
They were designed in-house
•
They were constructed in a shipyard!
•
It took at least 10 volunteers and 8 hours to assemble!
Our heartfelt thanks to our parishioner Bernard Yong who helped construct the wreaths and to members of the Hospitality, EM and Catechist Ministries who helped in the assembly.
De Cleanse Ministry's Canteen Day
Thank you for supporting our canteen day!
We certainly had fun!
Our First Sacrament of
Reconciliation
What is Advent to You?
Advent is the four weeks leading up
to Christmas when Christians are
encouraged to meditate on the second
coming of Jesus as proclaimed in
the New Testament. Advent is also a
time for us to become more involved,
more caught up in the meaning and
the possibilities of life as a Christian
community. Thus we are preparing not
only for Christmas but also for Christ's
second coming. This means that when
He comes again, we will be awake and
watchful. He will not find us asleep.
The first Sunday of Advent is the Sunday
of Hope. As you light the first candle in
your home, thank God for the light He has
brought into the world and into your life.
The Advent wreath is still on sale at the
foyer. Get one while stocks lasts!
Our Superb Church Clean-up!
Once again, our CDM parishioners
demonstrated their community spirit
when more than 80 volunteers took
time out from their Hari Raya Haji public
holiday to lend a hand in the Church
cleaning. Many hands made light work,
and the scrubbing, cleaning and mopping
were done in no time. On behalf of the
D'Cleanse Ministry, we would like to
extend our gratitude to all the volunteers
for their contribution in getting our Lord's
House ready for Advent.
Our teens making sure all the windows
were squeaky clean
A team of dust-busters!
RCIA catechumen, Adam, was all smiles.
Holy Innocents' Primary comes
to CDM
A group of 70 Primary 5 students visited
CDM last Friday, 12 Nov, for a tour of
the Church. They were given a brief
history of the Divine Mercy devotion and
participated in a recitation of the chaplet.
Their teachers commented that they had never seen them so enthusiastic about prayer!
Farewell, Brother Martin!
Last Saturday, 13 November, the
Confirmation 3 students and catechists
organized a small farewell celebration
for Brother Martin. With great food and
an awesome performance by the Con
3's band, The Fedoras, a good time was
shared by all at the gathering.
« Br. Martin enjoying the makan with some
catechists.
A Christmas Festival of Choirs
This Christmas season, treat yourself
to an evening of beautiful music with
performances by 4 secular award winning
school and adult choirs and our CDM
Choral Music Ministry.
Themed "When Secular Meets Sacred
– A Christmas Festival of Choirs", the
choirs will be performing both secular
and Christian Christmas songs.
This concert aims to reach out to our
non-Catholic brethren through our display
of faith and warm hospitality; as well as to
raise funds for charity through your love
offerings. Details of the beneficiary will be
announced soon. We look forward to your
support.
Date :
5 December 2010
Time :
7.30pm
Venue :
Main Church
Admission :
FREE with love offerings
Tickets will be available at a booth set up
at the foyer on a first-come-first-serve
basis on the weekend of 27 and 28 Nov.
Congratulations!
to the parents, their infants, and godparents who celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism of their little ones. For photographs enquiries, please send and email to: photography@divinemercy.sg
Members took time off their precious long weekend to reflect, rejuvenate and bond.
Fostering closer bonds with each other
30 members from our Hospitality Ministry
went for their first Fellowship Retreat from
5-6 Nov at Majodi Center, Johor Bahru.
The objective of the retreat was to focus
on fellowship and team building. With the
guidance of Father Johnson, the "retreat
master", members gained insights on the
foundations of their faith, the Mass and
their roles as Hospitality Ministers.
The retreat was a success as members
were recharged, closer relationships
were forged and the Ministry gained a
clearer view of its mission as Hospitality
Ministers of CDM.
Information about the Ministry and
photos of the retreat are on the Ministry's
webpage.
"Be sealed with the gifts of the Holy
Spirit" - Darian Melson being confirmed
by Archbishop Nicholas Chia
"My faith has grown stronger thanks to
our selfless catechists!" – Terrence Tan
(left); "I decided to join the Hospitality
Ministry to continue to serve the
community" – John Teo (right).
"I am feeling happy but a little nervous. I
was very touched during the confirmation
camp when my friends prayed over
me" – Toni Elisha Bracken (left) with her
godmother.
"Praise God for blessing my life with
these teens." – Kelvin;
"God has changed hearts and sent angels
to help us through the entire year." -
Gloria
Registration of Catechism 2011
Registration for the 2011 Catechism
classes is now open until 7 Nov.
Registration form is available HERE and at the Parish Office. A
registration booth will be set up at the
foyer for your convenience.
The 2011 class times can be found on HERE. For enquiries,
please e-mail catechism@divinemercy.sg or contact Agnes 9830 0258.
The Communion of Saints
St.Faustina,
the Apostle of the Divine Mercy
Let us remember the saints who have
been models of grace and fidelity
for us. In our liturgical celebration,
we participate in the Communion
of Saints, who actively share in our
worship, as we await the day of the
Lord. While we are on earth, we are
in communion with one another. We
believe that those who have died in
Grace, remain in communion with us
on earth. So, just as we might ask a
friend or family member to pray for
us, we can approach a saint with our
prayer too.
All Souls Day - 2 November 2010
"…he considered that they who had fallen
asleep with godliness, had great grace
laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and
wholesome thought to pray for the dead,
that they may be loosed from sins."- 2
Maccabees 12: 45-46
We also ask those who have died in the
state of grace to pray for us as they now
enjoy the glory which Christ has promised
them.
Year-end Calendar of Events
We will be listing out the key dates
over the next weeks. Do keep these
dates free.
Daily Mass on 5 Nov, Deepavali Day
As it is a public holiday, morning
Mass will be at 8am, Chapel. No 6pm
Mass. As it is the 1st Friday, there
will be a Family Hour of Prayer at
7.30pm, Main Church. There will be
Divine Mercy devotion and Mass.
Sacrament of Confirmation
Come celebrate with our youths on
this very special day of their lives.
Date :
Saturday, 30 Oct
Mass Times :
5.30pm (Sunset Mass)
Celebrant :
Archbishop Nicholas Chia
Mass Times for All Saints' Day (Holy Day of Obligation)
Date :
1 Nov, Monday
Mass Times :
6.30am, 1pm, 7:30pm
Mass Times for All Souls' Day
Date :
2 Nov, Tuesday
Mass Times :
6.30am, 7:30pm
Do You Know...
What is a "Holy Day of Obligation"?
It is unfortunate that many Catholics look
on these wonderful feasts with a dreary
sense. They are so much more than that!
We celebrate the most important feasts of
our liturgical year on these days.
We call them obligations because the
Precepts of the Catholic Church tell us
that celebrating those feast days is a
part of the minimum level of commitment
to the Catholic faith. It reminds us that
Christian life requires a commitment
to prayer and active participation in
the liturgy and sacraments. If we fall
below this bare-minimum level, can we
rightly consider ourselves to be in full
communion with the Catholic Church?
RCIA: A Lesson in Holy Matrimony
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Ivy and Harold, a couple from Marriage
Encounter, gave a talk to the catechumens
last Sunday about the Sacrament of
Marriage and the Marriage Encounter
"We Wish to See Jesus"- John 12:21
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The Great Commission from 98300258.
our Lord: "Go out and proclaim
the Good News", is not only to
foreign missionaries but also to
us as lay persons. At each Mass
we are nourished by Christ's
sacrifice, present in the Eucharist.
Because we have been forgiven,
we must take the Good News
of Redemption to all who we
meet. Let us do this through of
actions, words and prayers. This
is Discipleship. This is Mission.
World Mission Sunday Mass
Date: 24 Oct, 6pm OLPS Church
Celebrant: Archbishop Nicholas Chia
Mass is organized by the Archdiocesan
Commission for Missionary Activity
(ACMA).
For enquiries, contact Lynette
Loh at 64749184 or admin@acma.sg or
visit their website at http://www.acma.sg
Rosary of the
Blessed Virgin
Mary
Every Saturdays of
October, 4.30pm at the
main Church.
All are
encouraged to spend
some time in prayer.
Catechist Canteen Sunday
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"Catechists all ready to welcome their first
customers last Sunday at the canteen."
The Catechist Ministry thanks all
parishioners for their support for another
successful Ministry Canteen Sunday.
SCC Canteen Sunday
Come support the SCC on 24 Oct during
their Canteen Sunday. Be assured that
there would be a sumptuous array of
food as the SCC is known for their mouth
watering spread!
Music Ministry's Retreat
(Bonding plays a key part in Ministry work)
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Members of the CDM Choral Ministry
embarked on a two-day-one night retreat
to Malacca from 8 to 9 Oct. The purpose
of this time together was to promote
bonding among the members, helping
them to get to know each other better
and strengthen the Ministry as a whole.
Infant Baptism on 101010
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Congrats to the infants, their parents and
godparents!
Dear Archbishop...
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All 38 of our Confirmation 3 students are
preparing themselves very seriously for
their confirmation on 30 Oct. After their 10
weeks Ministry Service Attachment, the
students spent a weekend in retreat. Many
cited being touched by the Holy Spirit.
Last week, students were asked to write
to our Archbishop on their reflection about
confirmation, how they were preparing for
it and how they plan to live their mission
after confirmation. The letters were very
personal and heartfelt.
Let us pray for these young hearts that
they will "be sealed with the gifts of the
Holy Spirit". Let us also pray for their
parents, godparents and catechists.
"Heartiest congratulations to the parents who have given the most precious gift to their child...the gift of Faith. Mass with Infant Baptism celebrated with the community on Sunday 10 Oct 2010, 11am.
"I feel happy! To prepare myself, I prayed with my parents and attended Penitential Service"
- Dylan Britto, nine (left) with his parents
There was an atmosphere of festivity
before the celebration of the FHC in our
parish last weekend. Catechists doing last
minute checks, anxious parents adjusting
their already immaculately dressed
child, and of course the "little angels"
themselves, looking sweet and innocent
as they prepared themselves for their big
moment.
Father Johnson telling the stories of St. Teresa and St. Faustina to the children during his Sunset Mass homily.
The children surprised the congregation by singing the Thanksgiving Hymn.
"I prayed every
night. Now, I feel
good, excited and
nervous. This day is
special because I am
receiving the Body of
Christ"
– Zalma Lyn, nine,
daughter of Rizaldy
and Marissa Sapiera
Remembering St Faustina
Last Sunday,
about 500
faithful came
together in
an afternoon
of Mandarin
devotion to St.
Faustina, the
patron saint of
the Church of
Divine Mercy. To
commemorate
her feast day
(which occurs
on 5 Oct), a talk
was given by Fr.
Paul Tong on the
Divine Mercy.
This session provided an enriching insight into the life of St Faustina. Fr. Timothy Yeo ended the afternoon with a celebration of the Mass.
SVDP Feast Day
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Archbishop Nicholas Chia, the main celebrant, encouraged the members to give more of themselves in working with and for the poor. Nine members received their long service medals (25 years and above) and new recruits took their oath during Mass
Catechists Need You
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The Catechists Ministry is recruiting. Parishioners with experience teaching catechism are encouraged to step forward. For those without, training will be provided.
Our catechists will be stationed at the foyer this weekend, 45 minutes before and after all Masses. Please approach the booth to enquire further. You can also e-mail catechism@divinemercy.sg.
Catechumens "Works of Mercy" Experience
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On 26 Sept, catechumens and their sponsors made their 3rd and final visit to the Sree Narayana Home. Mooncakes were served to the delight of the residents. Residents were also treated to a Cantonese opera followed by a magic show. At the end of the afternoon, the catechumens and sponsors spent an hour in prayer and reflection.
Catechumens and sponsors preparing paper lanterns meant as door gifts for residents attending the performances
My Experience at Sree Narayana
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"Do you know that these gentle folks were on the lookout for those who had on previous Sunday shown them care and concern. When they saw us, their faces broke out into unbridled joy! They were so happy to be spending time with us again! It's been an enriching experience. I have learnt that the more you love, the greater is your capacity to love."
– May Fong, catechumen @ CDM (right in blue)
FHC Penitential Service
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In a week's time, the FHC children will receive Christ for the very first time at the Sunset and Sunday 9am and 11am Masses. Parents have been roped in to help catechesise to their child on the importance and sacredness of the Holy Eucharist. And as part of the Whole Community Catechesis programme, parishioners across CDM have also been praying fervently for each child. Let us continue to pray as one community, that the Holy Spirit will descend upon these children, their parents, and godparents as they receive Christ in the Eucharist for the first time. We would also like to thank the catechists, who put a lot of effort into preparing the children for their big day.
Community Participation for our First Holy Communion (FHC) Kids
Parishioners praying for their FHC child, please remember to attend the FHC Mass on either 2 or 3 Oct at the Mass times reflected on the bookmark. If would mean a lot to the child if you could congratulate them in person.
Catechumens' Works of Mercy Experience
On 19 Sep, about half the number of catechumens from CDM and Holy Family Church took the more able-bodied residents of the Sree Narayana Home to the Botanical Gardens for a picnic lunch. The other catechumens remained at the Home in order to spend some time with and care for the less mobile residents. This is the 2nd of 3 visits to the Home as part of their "works of mercy" experience.
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A catechumen experiences what it means to love as Christ did through the simple gesture of feeding an elderly resident.
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Taking the residents through the sights and sounds of the Gardens.
Farewell,
Brother
Martin!
It seemed like yesterday we welcomed
Br. Martin to our parish. Nine months
have passed and it is time to say
farewell. This is Br. Martin's last
weekend with us as he will be going
back to the seminary to prepare for
his final Bachelor's in Theology in
November.
Your memories about CDM?
The friendly people, warm hospitality,
their openness and acceptance.
What's next for you?
After my exams, I will return to my
home diocese in Penang and "wait" for
my Bishop to ordain me as Deacon,
followed by my priestly ordination later.
Any last word for our parishioners?
Though being a new family, you have
showed great enthusiasm in coming
together as ONE and contributing
enormously for the good of the Parish.
I am personally touched by your
generousity and I encourage you all to
persevere. May the Lord bless you all.
We would like to thank Brother Martin
for the nine months he has spent with
us. If you see him today, do give him a
handshake or a hug. Let us continue to
pray for him and may our paths cross
again one day. Brother Martin can be
reached at martandrews@gmail.com
Our Catechumens' RCIA Journey
Infant Baptism
Brisk Business @ Lectors' Canteen Day
Last Sunday, our catechumens spent the
day at the Sri Narayana Home to care for
and entertain the residents. They helped
feed lunch to the infirm and entertained the
residents with a sing-along and comedy
skit. Fr Iggy blessed and anointed the
catechumens at the end of the day.
Congrats to the infants, parents and
godparents!
Thank you to our parishioners for supporting the LectorsMediterranean themed
canteen day last Sunday.
D'Cleanse Ministry
We are the dust-busters of CDM.
Previously called Willing Hands, our
team decided to adopt a more "chic"
name, and thus D'Cleanse was coined!
Church cleaning starts at 8am every
Saturday. However, the number
of volunteers is dwindling and like
Singapore, the Ministry has an ageing
population. Some weeks, there are
only four volunteers to clean the entire
Church!
The Ministry is appealing for more
"young blood" (literally!) to step forward
as volunteers. With more hands, the
Church cleaning can end faster and the
community can use the Church earlier
for activities.
If you wish to start
your weekend in
the humble service
to God and can
spare a few hours
on a Saturday
morning, come join
us. For enquiries,
please contact Peter Augustine (96322618) or Brenda Gomez (90074447).
Emaildcleanse@
divinemercy.sg
Con 3 Kevin Norris
with his "vacuum
machine"!
"Cleaning the
Church isn't a
lowly task but
something which
brings immense
satisfaction"
–
Amanda D'Cruz, Con 3
student
Amanda and Adeline,
Con 3 attachees
Why Church cleaning for your
attachment?
I thought this would be something not
many would want to do. Also, getting
a workout every Saturday morning was
quite appealing!
What's most challenging in this
Ministry?
It was quite tiring and waking up early on
a Saturday morning wasn't easy too!
Where is the joy for you in this
Ministry?
Being able to do something good and
meaningful for the parish community and
serving God at the same time.
Any misconception about the Ministry,
now that you've served in there?
It is a very enjoyable Ministry where
parishioners of all ages work together
to clean the Church. I now realise that
cleaning the Church isn't a lowly task,
but something which brings immense
satisfaction!
There were seven Con 3 students attached
to D'Cleanse Ministry - Adeline Tan, Amanda
D'Cruz, Benedict Abraham, Daniel Desker,
Darian Melson, Kayne Augustine and Kelvin
Norris. Thank you for your commitment in
helping us clean the Church. We pray that
you may have a spirit-filled Confirmation.
- Interviewed by Jade Teo, Con 3
Thank You, Corrinne
CDM was packed to the rafters last Saturday,
as people from across Singapore came
together to listen to the unique voice of
Corrinne May, who belted out compositions
that centered mainly on her reflections on
life and God's goodness. She gracefully
answered questions at the end of the
concert, and it was clear that this talented
woman derives much of her inspiration from
God and her loving husband and daughter.
We wish her continued success.
Corrinne chose Caritas Singapore, an
umbrella organisation under the Archdiocese,
whose members include various Catholic
charities and organisations such as Boys'
Town Singapore, Family Life Society and
the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, as
the recipient of her donation. A total of
$15,504.45 was collected as love offerings
that evening!
Corrinne
charmed the
audience with
her talent
and engaging
personality.
CDM's Choral Music Ministry opened
the concert with a beautiful a capella set
of Church hymns.
First Holy Communion (FHC) - Parents Formation Day
Parents of FHC children participated in a "Formation Day"
last Saturday. This event marks the first time that parents
are roped in to catechise and journey with their child in
preparation for the FHC. Father Johnson spent about
an hour with the parents, providing them with "tools" to
explain the sacredness of the Communion Rite, which is
the culminating point of the Mass, to their child. At the end
of the session, each family was given a loaf of bread with
which to organize a family meal.
Parents were given
time to share with
their child on the
significance of the
Communion Rite
and the Eucharist.
"We found the
session helpful and
informative. It would
be good to have more
of such sessions for
parents"
– Greg Serafim,
with Veronica and wife Inga
Christian Meditation Workshop
The theme of the workshop was "Lord,
Teach Us to Pray ". The response was
good, with 138 participants (including
a group from Johore!) coming from 20
Catholic parishes. In addition, there were a
few from other Christian churches, as well
as some non-Christians.
The workshop, facilitated by Peter Ng,
National Coordinator of WCCM Singapore,
included talks, video presentations and
meditation sessions. Father Johnson
welcomed the participants and had
fellowship with them over lunch. The good
turnout and interesting Q & A session was
indeed a testimony of people's desire to
get closer to God.
**Interested in attending the next
meditation session? See page 3 for more
details.
The CDM Meditation Group helping out at with the registration.
Patrick Prakash from CDM's Meditation Group conducting a session.
Confirmation 3 Service Attachment reported by Jade Teo, Con 3 attachee in Communications
This week, we feature Merissa Koh who has been attached
to the Hospitality Ministry for 10 weeks. Here is what she
had to say about her experience:
"I decided to join the Hospitality Ministry as I
thought it was something interesting. It has
been fun! The wardens have been very caring,
loving and thoughtful towards me. We are like
family. We have get-togethers and we always
pray together before Mass. I am happy to
serve God's people."
Besides Merissa, there are 3 other students attached to the
Ministry. They are John Tew, Terence Tan and Sarah Tan. Let
us, as one community, pray for the continued enthusiasm of
our youth in the service of God and His Church. We would
also like to thank the students for serving us during their 10
weeks attachment.
Choral Music Ministry's Canteen Day
Last Sunday, the Choral Music Ministry
showcased their vocal and cooking
talents at the canteen. Choir members
took turns between singing at Mass
and helping at the canteen. This is
part of the Ministries' efforts to engage
the parishioners outside their routine
ministry work.
"Our members were very
enthusiastic. We were here since
6:30am!"
– Angelina, CMM
"It's an excellent opportunity for bonding and to showcase our cooking talents!" - Regina, CMM (R)
"We have breakfast at the CDM
canteen every week! We like the family
atmosphere here. It is a great place to
catch up with friends!"
– John and Nicole Jegathesan with their two
lovely children.
Congrats to our Communion Ministers!
42 Extraordinary Ministers (EMs) of Holy
Communion were commissioned last Saturday
during the sunset Mass. The EMs renewed their
commitment to bring the Body of our Lord to
the parish community, both in Church and to
home bound Catholics. We thank them for their
fervour as we continue to pray for them.
Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Blessed Virgin Mary
The Catholic Church teaches as a key point of our faith that the Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heaven. We can think of this as her 'heavenly birthday'. In his 15 Aug 2004 homily at Lourdes, Pope John Paul II quoted John 14:3, the verse where Jesus tells His disciples that He will go and prepare a place for them, and then come again to receive them to Himself. Mary's assumption is the symbol of this promise made by Christ. Let us, then, look forward to being received into Paradise as well.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated on Aug 15. It is a Holy Day of Obligation.
A Short Chat with our
CDM Secretariat
Congrats to our
Newly Baptised Infants!
There was food aplenty at the SCC potluck!
Have you dropped in to our Parish Office lately? If you have, then you would certainly have noticed our friendly CDM secretariat, Raymond Tan, working on many of the important administrative matters concerning our parish.
“I was working as the Secretariat with Holy Trinity Church (HTC) for 5 years before coming over to CDM in June as a full time staff. I find the workload here slightly less than at HTC.One challenge is when we get people who come into the office and ask for money. It is hard to know if they are genuine and it is difficult to turn them down."
Interviewed by Cassandra Goh during her Con 3 Service Attachment
Congratulations to:
•
Isabelle Grace Lee Ting
•
Kayla Tan
•
John Marinee Gaspar Dandan
•
Aaron Tan
who were baptizsd in our Parish last Sunday. We wish them and their families our blessings and heartiest congratulations!
Holy Women in our Midst
Walk along our Chapel and you would notice new
a few new statues. As Fr Johnson explained, both
St Maria Faustina and Blessed Mother Teresa are
"We may be sure of it: from
on high, Mary follows our
footsteps with gentle
concern, dispels the gloom
in moments of darkness and
distress, and reassures us
with her motherly hand."
— Pope Benedict XVI
The Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin Mary will be celebrated
on Aug 15. It is a Holy Day of
Obligation.
significant as they were
"among the first to be
canonized and beatified
in this new century".
He
hopes that highlighting
Mother Teresa will
"promote the mission of
mercy to the poor and
needy", while St Faustina
was chosen as she is
closely associated with the
Divine Mercy.
Couples for Christ
SSC Appreciation & Fellowship
Praise and worship at the CFC gathering
There was food aplenty at the SCC potluck!
On 24 July, the CDM Couples for Christ
(CFC) met up to celebrate Lord's Day
where members thank God for His
blessings and parents pray over their
children. CFC is a movement intended to
renew and strengthen Christian family life.
Members commit themselves to the Lord
and to one another so that they may fulfil
the vocation of raising families committed
to service for the Kingdom of God.
The Small Christian Community (SCC)
organized an appreciation potluck last
Saturday for those who have helped out
during the 1st Parish Feast Day and at
other SCC services like wake prayers etc.
About 60 parishioners turned up and the
fellowship was evident from the laughter
and chatters! To find out more about
the SCC near you, contact Julie Goh
(96493447).
Appreciating the Holy Mass
Students were all ears at the talk
The teens also watched a video about
the Eucharist Miracles and were asked to
reflect if they truly believed in the presence
of the Body and Blood of our Lord in the
bread and wine. After that session, they
attended the sunset Mass together, and had
dinner and fellowship to follow. We hope
that the teens enjoyed this workshop.
Do we need a Eucharistic Miracle?
The teens also watched a video about
the Eucharist Miracles and were asked to
reflect if they truly believed in the presence
of the Body and Blood of our Lord in the
bread and wine. After that session, they
attended the sunset Mass together, and had
dinner and fellowship to follow. We hope
that the teens enjoyed this workshop.
"… I learnt that
the Mass is
sacred, and that
the Eucharist
is and always
has been in our
hearts, minds
and souls, just
as it is in Jesus'
heart, mind
and soul."
–
Kassandra, Con 3
"I felt amazed (after the video)because I didn't know that those Eucharistic miracles were possible."
– Beverly, Con 1
This week's Parish Buzz was put together by
our Con 3 journalists, Cassandra Goh
(left) and Bernadette Lim (right).
In the Ministry of Service
Serving the Aged
The Canteen Ministry had a respite from
their weekly canteen duties and used their
time instead to prepare and deliver dinner
to the Gift of Love Home last Sunday. This
is indeed inspiring as they heeded the
call of their social mission. If all goes well,
they plan to cook for the residents again in
September, November and for Christmas.
Canteen Ministry volunteers giving the
old folks a taste of CDM's care and love.
« The Communications and Multimedia Ministry all ready to serve their customers!
Con 3 Service Attachment
Updates
Kassandra (left) and Ron (in specs)
attached to the Communications
Team tried their hand at being 'roving
reporters', helping to get feedback from
parishioners at the canteen.
Serving Parishioners
As part of the monthly Ministry Canteen
Day, the Communications, Audio-Visual
and Photography teams tried their hand
at running the Canteen last weekend. The
spread of food was quickly snapped up
and the Ministry made a profit of $322.80
which will go to the CDM fund.
Learning to Serve
"I found the people in the (Canteen)
Ministry helpful and caring, and I'm
happy that I got to serve others. It made
me feel like I am part of this church."
– Daniel (2nd from left), Con 3 student
attached to the canteen Ministry.
Infant Baptism
5 infants fwere bapsied at the 11am Mass on Sunday, 11th July. They are: Joel Geow
Keyla Isabelle Navarro Camacho
Megan Ashley Velasco Yao
Rafael Nicolas Hubalde
Jeanette Anne Koh Ning Xin
What does the Lectors Ministry do?
The Lectors Ministry is important to the life
of the Church, as lectors proclaim God's
living Word at Mass and share in the Church's
mission to preach the Good News to all
people.
What is the significance of the
commissioning?
The commissioning is an opportunity for the
lectors to commit themselves to proclaim the
Word with respect, clarity and conviction. In the ceremony, they receive God's strength
to do His work, as well as His grace to put what they read into practice.
Let us offer our prayers for these special men and women who have dedicated their time
to the proclamation of God's Word in our community, that they will act in obedience to
the Holy Spirit and grow in love for the Scriptures.
Our lectors will be commissioned at the 9am Mass on Sunday, 11 July. Please refer to bulletin Pg. 3 for the names of those elected to the new Lectors Exco
Children's Eucharistic
Adoration
Last Sunday, children from the
primary catechism classes spent time
in adoration of the Holy Eucharist.
The purpose is to instill respect and
reverence to our Lord whenever one
is in the presence of the Blessed
Sacrament. It is also to inculcate a
sense of quietness amid the hurried
and busy lifestyles.
Confirmation 3
Service Attachment
Con 3 students were welcomed by the Communications and Multimedia team
Don't be surprised to see our
teenagers as wardens, serving you in
the canteen, as photographers etc.
as they begin their 10 week journey
as part of the Confirmation Service
Attachment programme. Do give them
a friendly smile and encouragement.
Confirmation 3 Teens' Service Immersion
Con 3 teens raring to start their service attachment!
Our Confirmation 3 teens will enter
into an exciting phase of their faith
journey. From 4 July, over ten Sundays,
these teens will begin their service
attachment in the various Ministries.
The attachment is to enable the teens
to explore and discover the talents and
gifts which God has given to them.
More importantly, the attachment
hopes to instill a deeper awareness of
the importance of each Ministry in the
building of a vibrant parish. Let us pray
for a fruitful attachment and give them
encouragement.
Infant Baptism Preparation
Every 1st Sunday of the month, a
group of volunteers take joy in helping
parents and godparents prepare for
infant baptism. Parent intending to
have their child baptised must register
themselves and the godparents for
this session. This is essential as
through the Sacrament of Baptism, a
child becomes a part of God's family.
The next session will be held on:
Date :
4 July, 3.30pm
Venue :
4th Level, St Faustina Room
Registration begins at 3.15pm.
For enquires, contact Gerard Stewart (97440026) or Felix Pushpam (97698141).
"The session is necessary to raise the
importance of baptism… being a lifelong
commitment (for the parent and godparent). It
is not just a ritual."
– Jonathan and Angela with
baby Naomi and her godparents
"The workshop reinforces the significance
of baptism to parents and godparents. It has
prepared us to assume our guardianship roles
in the spiritual upbringing of our child."
– Fabian and Eunice with Bridget and Aidan
Note: Infant baptism is held on the 2nd Sunday
of the month at the 11am Mass. Forms can be
obtained from the Parish Office or from
www.divinemercy.sg
Tribute to Fathers - Happy Father's Day!
A Father's Day Prayer
God our Father, in your wisdom and love
you made all things. Bless those fathers
who have taken upon themselves, the
responsibility of parenting. Bless those
who have lost a spouse to death ... or
divorce, who are parenting their children
alone. Strengthen them by your love that
they may be and become the loving,
caring persons they are meant to be.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen
"A joy which
can never be
explained fills
your heart. It is
coupled with
challenges,
curiousity and
a sense of
responsibility. It
reminds you of
how much our
Father loves us..."
– Jonathan Juganas, a father of four on the joys of fatherhood
"When my first
granddaughter was
born, I prayed "Lord, thank you…keep her
well. Should anything bad befall her, let it be done to me instead"
– Larry Chong,
who now has 5
grandchildren
"I draw strength
from the Bible.
I constantly tell
my kids that I will
always love them
and be there for
them"
– Luke Teo, a single
parent
Down Memory Lane
9 Jan 2010
Triduum leading up to CDM's
Dedication & Blessing
11 April 2010
A child's feast dayreflection
3 April 2010
Easter Vigil Mass
3 April 2010
First batch of adults to be baptised
11 April 2010
Happy parishioners at the feast day food fair
Some reflection questions to ponder on as we hit the half way mark for this year:
†
What does it mean to be a parishioner in the Church of Divine Mercy?
†
What was the parish life I was expecting? What is my vision for our Church?
†
Am I still a bystander, taking a "look and see" approach towards my involvement in
Church?
†
Do I know the Small Christian Community in my area?
Sounds of Hope
Gawad Kalinga Hope Initiative
From the slums of Tatalon, Philippines,
the Tatalon Performing arts (TaPA)
choir comprised of children and youth
between the ages of 9 to 21, will be here
in Singapore for the second time from
June 17th to 28th to support the Gawad
Kalinga (GK) Global Summit 2010. With
their inspirational voices and songs of
hope sung from the heart, TaPA will
perform at the 'Chambers' of the Old
Parliament House.
TaPA was first conceived when a
parishioner of St. Teresa's Church, Aileen
Ong, first went to Tatalon to start a
feeding programme for the malnourished
children. She then discovered the musical
talents of these young people and
motivated them with the promise of a
trip to Singapore if they became a 'Gold
Class' choir in 6 months. TaPA sprung
into action, and rehearsed day and night
and made their first trip to Singapore in
2007.
Tickets are available at the Old
Parliament House box-office for $35.
The choir will also be singing at the
Church of Divine Mercy on 20 June from
10 to 11am. Come and experience the
beautiful sounds of TaPA!
About Gawad Kalinga (GK)
The GK Community Infrastructure
Program aims to build brightly painted
homes in sustainable communities for
the poorest of the poor. Homes and other
communal facilities are built through a
combination of skilled paid labor and
sweat of the GK residents themselves.
TaPA members belong to these
communities, some of which do not
have their own homes yet. They yearn to
further their education to improve their
lives as well as their communities and
break out of the poverty cycle.
Calling all University Freshmen
Entering a local university this year? Catholic student groups of NUS, NTU and SMU will be at the Church foyer this Sunday morning to promote their upcoming Freshmen Orientation Camps, an annual activity aimed at welcoming incoming Catholic freshmen to fun and faith-filled campus communities.
For more information, contact Rebecca (NUS) at 97776267, Shermaine (NTU) at 97394726, or Shawn (SMU) at 97473722.
An Evening with Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers
Educating Children in the Faith
"The best way to encourage
spirituality in children is to live it out
in the home. It has to be a part of
your everyday life in the family."
Click HERE to read interview with
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers.
"I thought the talk
was a very practical
approach to living our
faith… You can't argue
with the fact that the
family or the parent
is actually the seed
of religious formation
and we set real life
examples for our
children to follow."
~ Marie Rebeira
"I realized that
the family is very
important and that
the experiences we
share with our children
have to come from the
bottom of our hearts if
we really want to lead
by example."
~ Catherine David
"I attended "Armour of Love" at the SMU on
Sunday and I thought it was relevant to how
married life is in Singapore… I was so interested
that I came down today again when I found out
that there was a series of talks that Deacon
Harold was giving… His passion for married life is
exemplary and there were a lot of things we learnt
from this talk."
Members of the Communications Ministry – some old, some new.
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Students were all ears at the talk
Con 3 students were welcomed by the Communications and Multimedia team
acebook!