seesm to me that people here are not very keen to see people die in a dignified or more humane way.. that's my view judging from the comments..

 

 

hi honeybunz..

 

those days.. there were many missionaries came to singapore .. the french MEP who built the Cathedral of teh good shepherd.. St. Joseph belong to the diocese of Macau.. also belong to another religious order?? and later handed over to the singapore diocese.. That's why so many eurasian  catholics of portuguese origin  were baptized there.. macau once a portugese colony.. Our lady of lourdes were built to cater for the indian catholics.. Sacred heart church for the cantonese catholics form hong kong?? As a result, all were built pretty close to each other as these parishioners were living side by side.. hope that helps

 

God Bless

 

just went recently,, very nicely renovated comapred to the previous.. yes.. the current archbishop Nicholas Chia is from Holy Cross.. Fr. Ambrose parish priest .. so many diocese priests seem to be going ard .. i nearly lost touch where they posted to..

 

 

Hi M&P,

 

You never know if the Lord wants you to serve him.. The lord calls the least unexpected .. not all  the holy ones.. but some of them you dun expect them to join the seminary.. (you know what i mean!)

If The lord calls you..there will be signs you will see.. and no matter how or what you want to escape.. you can never run.. unless you do not want ..

Maybe, you be the nxt to join the seminary..??

 

God Bless!

 

hi fantagf..

I'm glad you are going to novena church and trying to know this 9th week novena devotion.

1stly, i would encourage you ( at yr own pace) to explore the church in and out.. Pretty easy.. take less than 10 mins.. also very important to know where is the LOO.. why ..the novena service is abt 30 mins.. and some control the bladder so tight that 1st thing right after the novena is to the LOO.. (just kidding!)

Get yrself aquaint with the church.. (if you have never been to a catholic church b4!) Dun worry if you do not know anything.. Just relax.. normally in the church, there are statues of Jesus, Mother Mary, and all other saints.. eg. St. Joseph etc.. (foster father of jesus) Incidentally, the feast of all saints was celebrated  just 2 days ago.. behind  the altar, usually have a cruxifix and a large one..at the entrance of the church, there is a small font with holy water for the catholics to dip their fingers to make the sign of the cross prior to enter the church. Non catholics can also do that!

I would encourage you to go during one of the weekdays pereferably in the  afternoon. (less people).. and observe.. You'll see people doing genuflecting b4 the altar. Dun worry, if you not sure whether to do or how to do.. If you do not know how to genuflect.. just go directly and sit on the pews. Now.. praying.. ?? Again, dun worry.. just relax.. take a deep breath.. close yr eyes.. and start to pray.. dunno how or what to say? again, dun worry.. well for starters.. just say.. this (you can say this in yr own words if you want!).. Dear Sweet Mother mary, this is my 1st time to this church.. I want to know you and yr son, jesus better.. so pls help me.. Also, I have some thing to ask you to intercede for me.. (pray for yr petitions) eg.. to know God.. to become a catholic.. for yr job.. anything as long is is not morally wrong..

 as for yr novena.. it's ok if you miss one of the 9 novena.. just come for the following sat again to make up for it..

btw, you are not there by accident, it's the Holy spirit that has prompting you to come to novena.. Gradually you will come to love the novena sessions every sat.. (I dun go every sat due to work.. but try to go whenever i can) It's very peaceful.. and quiet just the right place to pray and meditate ..

God bless and Good luck!

 

 

 

 

 

i hope and pray that singapore will have a saint one day.. anybody you think is likley to be the  1st saint here?? not just the bishop, priests, sisters, brothers, any lay man too..

 

"rejoice and be glad"

 

hi m&P,

I think by now she has been taken.. oops.. sorry didn't mean to break yr heart.. ya..maybe mother of 2 kids.. coming 2 sunday mass.. with her hubby.. wish you were the one!!.. dun you? Fret not! Maybe she was not meant for you.. perhaps you can pray and ask God to help you to find a life partner.. esp a good catholic girl..

Maybe for a start, you can join choir (if you luv to sing!) meet people (legion of mary, wardens, charismatic etc.. or any other ministries that you like and has yr kind of people..) Strengthen yr spiritual life by spending more time with God, asking him to guide you as you  go along in life. Also, ask Mother Mary and yr patron saint to intercede for you.. By living a faithful christian life, you not only strengthen your faith but you be a good WITNESS to many others. Soon you'll have that  qualities that other people find you attractive. Pls be sincere and humble in all yr endevours and tasks.. Speak to people and develop genuine people relation (it's hard i know!) and who knows .. one fine day somebody.. somebody will find you irrestible to resist and you find her good too.. dun give up.. God Bless and good luck..

or maybe you are called to a priesthood?? get a spiritual director, priest or sister prefered to help you.. ..

 

 

Church of the nativity of the blessed virgin mary in hougang.. or BVM  very nice.. high ceilings.. St teresa.. also. up in the mountain.. as you drive along kg baru.. for far.. you can see the church on hiiltop..

SMOT.. nice but too modern..

Top 10..

1. BVM

2. Cathedral of the good shepherd

3. sacred heart

4. st joseph..(victoria st)  oohh lah.. lah.. one of my fav. church.. the 2 arch angels  st. michael and st gabriel.. so beautiful..remember fr. Bata??

5. novena church..

6. st peter and paul

7. st teresa

8. our lady of lourdes

9. OLPS

10. our lady queen of peace

any more??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this is getting too much.. imagine "attacked" a priest? We were taught to respect priests when we see them.. no matter how bad he is .. maybe he scolded you or what..

If that person has a grudge against him, pls see him after the novena, or talk to his superior. not attacking him.. pls..

Pray for the lady and Fr. Simon..

 

God Bless

 

 

 

quincey,

 

u mean fr. mike sitaram is going to another parish? Fr. Mike is good.. the "livewire" priest.. man u fanatic.. sad to see him goes if  its true..

oh.. i read it from catholic news last friday..

anyway, some priests i know personally. thier homilies are good.. carefully prepared.

Msgr Francis Lau' s one is simple and easy to understand.. I do not know him but i like to listen to to his himily .. straight to the pt.

 

cheers

 

 

 

I've not heard of Fr. Stanislau but Fr. John Bosco is ok.. Do u know that he is related to Fr. Simon Perera form novena church cousin?

Fr. John bosco moving from holy trinity to st. francis xavier in serangoon gardens.. Fr. Kenny tan from st anne to christ the king. Fr. Fr. Anthony Ho from st francis xavier to st anne. Fr. Joachim Chang to st joseph (BT) Fr. Robertus from CTK to st anne. Fr. stanislaus to risen christ..

Anybody knows them.. Though I do not know Fr. John Bosco..personally..His homilies were good.. So is Fr. Anthony Ho..

 

your thoughts

 

God bless

cheers!

 

hi adetet,

nice to know that you appreciate the catholic mass. Th catholic mass is the highest form of prayer. The church has always been under "attacked". for many things, devotion to mary, etc.. eucharist, anti-gay etc.. Until people come to know the truth of its teachings. it will remain to be seen as such. As they say " they cannot accept the truth" The truth hurts!

This case of "alleged" excorcism is a "classic" IIMO,  this lawyer is using logic and science  to prove that exorcism cannot "cure" of her illness or there's no such thing as exorcism at all. And in so doing, you get the consequences of a so called "botched" exorcism.. Unfortunately, "praying over" invlovled faith and faith is a mystery. What abt those prayed and being cured? How do answer that? It's a miracle, right? can science proved it? Of course no!

At Easter, we took the rite of baptism and this include the renounce of Satan and his demons and all his works. The presence of evil is very real in this world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a catholic, I attend Novena church mass sometimes during weekdays.. Their homilies were good pretty easy to understand.. The priests were "people priests". They were pretty friendly, notably, Frs Paul Lim, Peter wee, Bill Heng, Gino henriques and many others  and build good rapport with people, catholics and non catholics alike. They are doing a good job of bringing people to know Jesus, in particular non catholics..

They have a great devotion to Mother Mary. people of all religions came to pray and seek help. Countless petitions were answered. I have friends who go to saturday novena regulary to pray.. I do not go that often maybe once a while.

As to the recent case involved the alleged "exorcism", I'm not sure whether if true exorcism did carried out. However, one's thing for sure.. the priests there would not hestitate to help you if you are in spiritual danger or trouble. at anytime you can ask a priest just simply to bless you or pray for you.. if you want to go for a trip or a sugery. for a peace of mind. or invoke Divine Protection for you.

If what the so called "exorcism" proved to be false at the end of hearing.. it would be sad for the plantiff seeking compensation. Let us not mock at them or speak ill of them, but rather pray for their healing of the victims and all involved. Same goes for Mr. Bawja? the lawyer who said "may God forgive You!" Just pray for him.. But Please Mr. Bajwa pls dun say this .. again.. it is not very nice.. Even if you are of other religion, I would not remark or insult yr religion..

I know Fr. simon Tan on a personal basis and though he's known for a straight talker, he's a good priest. He was formerly an altar boy? form st. anne's church way back in punggol under Fr. Berthold. a french priest who has passed on. (God Bless His soul!) Someone mentioned his teochew in his homily.. that's laughable..that's ok.. In fact, many priests are teochew.. The present Archbishop Nicholas Chia is also teochew from nativity church in kangkar hougang.  Teochew "nan' as they say.. ha..

 

 

 

hi dumb dumb,

Much as we want to evangelise with the protestant, however the  catholic approach is  slightly different from that of teh protestant. To a catholic, religion is a persoanl thing btw him and God.. We encourage our non catholic friends to attend mass, novena etc.. with the intention to experience. not necessary to convert. We rather  let him feel whther he like it or not and whther he would want to coming to mass nxt time.. If he does not like, we have to let him go.. dun force.. maybe he's not ready yet..

But from experience with my non catholic friend, they like to knowmore abt th faith after attending the novena or mass for a few times. They feel peace and someone is caring for them.. maybe Mother Mary, jesus or the saints. The Novena church is one great example. Most of the converts came to know Jesus after their prayers have been answered. The greatest experience to convert is to receive the eucharist or holy communion. While watching their catholic friends or relatives lining up to receive holy communion during mass,  they know that deep inside their heart the intense desire to receive. They are convinced that receiving Jesus in the form of host is the greatest miracle that will transformed their lives. But because they are not baptized yet, they can only do a spiritual communion. So most of them can't wait to be baptised, but they have to do the RCIA first.

Honestly, as a frequent communicant of the holy communion.. every experience is different. There is certain amt of joy and happiness to receive Jesus who is God into yr lives. No amt of materia things cannot be bettter that that. Its is a transformed of yr live beyond anything else.

cheers!!

 

hi dumb dumb,

The Orthodox split with the catholic church in th 11th cent? The orthodox does not recognise the pope as the head and it has  own pope is the patriach which is based in Greece.. However, they have  7  sacraments are the same with the catholic church , namely, baptism, confirmation, holy matrimony, holy orders (priesthood), Holy communion, reconciliation (confession)  and anoinitng of the sick. In the  old days, it was known as extreme unction. or also scrament of the  dying.

They also believe in the real presence of Jesus in the holy communion. For catholics, we believe that once the host is consecrated in the holy mass by the priest, it becomes the real body and the wine become the real blood of christ even though the substance do not change. This process is called Transubstantiation.

Catechism of the catholic church (CCC) 1413  " By the consecration the transubstatiation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of  Christ is brought about. Under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real and substantial manner: his Body and  his Blood, with his soul and his divinity. (council of trent DS 1640, 1651)

Within the orthodox church, it split further into many rites.. oriental catholic church, eastern orthodox church, syria orthodox.. Some priest can marry, some cannot.. In singapore, the St. Thomas Orthodox syrian church is at yio chu kang , mainly it members are from the south of india, Kerala or the malayalees.

Even in the catholic church, we have 33 diferent rites. The main one is the latin or roman  rite. Other rites are syro malabar, maronite ..coptic catholic.. just to name  a few. These rites though a bit different are in communion with Rome. and pledged  obedience to the Holy Father, the pope.

 

hope that helps.

 

 

Dumb dumb,

as for the girl  died if without  converting.. we CANNOT say that just because IF  she was not converted PRIOR to her death.. she was unsaved, that is utteringly nonsense.!! Our God Is  God  of Love .. and we leave that judgement  i.e the unsaved to the mercy of God..

 

As for catholics who did not live a christian life.. .. just dun try to follow them.. neither do you condemn them just pray for them.. show them good examples.. As in every religion, there are black sheep..

 

praying to saints a mockery .. no not at all.. like i said, you can pray to God directly.. or pray to the saints.. is asking the saints to pray for yr intentions.. As for yr prayers answer, it is God and NOT the saints who answer yr prayers ..

dumb dumb,

I'm sorry that yr aunt did not tell you the good news of Jesus much earlier. Maybe, she did not want to offend you.. as you were buddhists at that time?? You see, religion to the catholics is much on personal  basis. Most Catholics, do not want to open up their religion to others.. me included. Reasons, dun want to offend others, not sure what to say.. etc.. sakli say wrong dunno how to answer malu. sia.. Probably she was like that..

Anyway, arent you glad to accept the Lord as yr God and savior.. ?? Sure you doo.. !!

On yr questions.. the brown cloth  I thin k you are refering to the scapular.. it's green or brown.. You see. all these are devotions. you need not follow them.if you dun want to If if you do and pray with faith, i,e recite the no of our fathers, hail marys and glory be as required the it would be alright.. . so along you dun do with superstitions..

 

As for praying to saint (intercessory prayer) it's ok.. you are asking him to pray for you.. you can also pray directly to God.. fine! It's catholic tradition to pray to saints.. esp their favorite saints.. eg Mother Mary the greatest saints of all saints.. ask her to help .. etc.. no problem.. My favorite saints are Mother Mary, St. Padre Pio, St. Faustina

Mother Mary as the match maker.. why not.. if you ask her to help you find a good partner in life.. by all means go for it.. btw, any miracle or any prayer answered comes from God and not the saints.. note the diff.. they are just there to pray for you..

 

As for the joke.. dun take it seriously, the priest was just joking.. nothing, vulgar.. have a humorous life too.. some priests are greatest jokers.. their jokes can really make you laugh all nite.. !!hahaha..

icemoon,

 

for marriage,

the church would prefer that that catholic marry a fellow catholic and raised the children as catholics. If you ask me, unless the other half is catholic or intend to be a catholic by going to RCIA, then it would be ok.. to marry in the catholic church (Dispensation is required form the local bishop). .otherwise. forget it! . It is important that the chidren raised as catholic.. This is one most important part of being a catholic parent. why?? If children are raised good catholics, a sense of godliness and christian attitudes will prevail in thier lives. Eg praying?? If you teach them to pray.. there will come a time that praying will be seen as important just as eating.. in times of crisis, joy.. wat do we do.. pray lahh of course..

By asking the non catholic spouse to attend RCIA , is a  way of testing whether  he or she is serious abt the faith..esp it is a long journey abt 9 months ??  esp the other half is a comitted catholic. Along the way, topics, raised are contraception, abortion, divorce etc.. then true colors will be seen as whetr he or she is comfortable with the church teachings.. no contracrp,only the natural way or NFP, no abortion.. like it or not.. no DIVORCE..haha?? wat no divorce?? mana boleh.. in this century?? If he or she cannot or will not accept the teachings.. then it would be better not to marry or face bitternness later on.

Sacraments like holy communion is only for baptised catholics. The marriage or holy matrimony is ok in church only with the dispensation from bishop.

hope that helps

hi there,

1st of all, I'm a catholic.. also..

oww.. there seem to be a "tussle" going on with limkopi and dumb dumb.. dumb dumb is not dumb after all.. he's good at the bible.. lol!!

seems to me i'll be the next victim of dumb dumb..hahah..

 

I have to admit i'm   not  very well versed in the scriptures or the bible, neither i'm a bible scholar.. credit to dumb dumb for all the bible quotes.. we catholics (most of them!!) are not very good in bible quotes.. but nvertheless we are learning ..

ok.. the difference.. in catholics and protestant is the date of founding.. of the church.. the catholic church was founded by Jesus Christ some 2,000 yrs ago.. At that time, the bible was not in yet.. maybe excpt the old testament.. correct?? So.. the people at that time carved out images or statues of Jesus, Mary, and othe saints  to remind them of Jesus, Mary when they pray.. Hence, the images.. therefore, you see statues of jesus, mary and all other saints as you enter into any catholic church anywhere in the world. It's a tradition.. btw, we are not praying to idols.. the images or statues gives us the sense of sacredness and reverence of acknowledgement of God and his holy saints. Also, it tell us when the time comes for us to leave this world, which is temporary, we will join them in eternal paradise. Thirdly, it is asking  them to pray for us just like asking you to pray for me.. nothing else.. My favorite image is Mother Mary carrying the infant Jesus .. This image tell us to love Jesus with all our heart and soul just like mother mary.

The protestant reform came in the 16th century when martin luther saw that the clergy in catholic church was corrupted in indulgence. indulgence is a partial or full remissison of sins when you attend certain devotions. .delcared by the pope. The clergy? sold the indulgence  for money and many were living in sinful lives. Apparently Luther was fed up with this and started the  reformation and said that his teaching was based on faith alone..

before that, also have a few breakaway from the catholic church like the armenian church.. eg.. The orthodox church shared the same beliefs with us except that they do not recognise the pope. However, recently talks are underway for closer ecumenism or unity

 

hope that helps..

 

cheers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi

 

"wlecome to the family"

Btw, which church were you being baptized?? Dun worry.. wont intrude yr privacy.. just curious..

So how's the easter mass?? very long hor?? a lot or readings..

I dun know abt this red pope conspiracy.. But Cardinal Sin was from phillipines.. a very influential clergy. on the phillipines politics..

 

There's a joke that there are 8 cardinal sins in the phillipines instead of 7. cardinal Sin was one of them..

 

cheers

 

hi catknight

 

"welcome to the family"

 

btw, which church will you be baptizing??

 

once a catholic, always a catholic!!

so have u gone for confession yet??

 

not many  days more and the priests will be very busy.till easter sunday.. . dun wait till last moment..

 

peace be with all of you!

 

cheers