Living the Mission of Holy Mother Church: St. Therese of Lisieux / of the Child Jesus

(Sharing at the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 19 Mar 2011)

Dear brothers and sisters,

Last week, we shared on St. Francis Xavier living the mission of Holy Mother Church. This week, you will hear about St. Therese of Lisieux a.k.a Therese of the Child Jesus or the Little Flower whose love and devotion to our Lord has touched and is still touching the hearts of millions of followers.

Therese, born on 2^nd Jan 1873 in Alencon, Normandy in France, was the pampered youngest daughter of two very devout Catholics. When she was four, her mother died of cancer.

Pauline, her second sister, became a surrogate mother to her. When Pauline entered the Carmelite Convent, Therese was upset and became critically ill. She was cured when she prayed before the statue of Mary and saw a vision of Mary smiling at her.

By eleven, she had developed the habit of mental prayer. She would find a place and think about God and eternal life in solitude. Her two other sisters, Marie and Leonie also left home to join the Carmelites and the Poor Clares respectively.

In 1886, at fourteen, Therese felt a stirring in her heart, which she referred to as her conversion. Therese decided that she wanted to enter the Discalced Convent at Lisieux.  However, the ecclesiastical superior objected and told her to come back when she turned 21. She consulted the Bishop but was also rejected. On a pilgrimage to Rome with her father and sister Celine, she broke decorum during an audience with the Pope and asked him for a special dispensation to enter Carmel. Pope Leo Xlll responded that she would enter if God wills it. Soon thereafter, at 15, Therese finally entered Carmel. There, Therese lived a life of humility, simplicity and childlike trust in God. She shared the Little Way of Spiritual Childhood with the novices under her care. 

She knew, as a Carmelite nun, she would never be able to perform great deeds.  She wanted to show her love for God by scattering flowers which were little sacrifices she made no matter how insignificant it would seem.  She smiled at the sisters she did not like; ate everything given without complaining so that she was often given the worst leftovers. Once, she was wrongly accused of breaking a vase.  Instead of arguing, she knelt to beg for forgiveness.

These little sacrifices of humiliation and good deeds cost her more than bigger ones because they were not recognised by others. When Pauline became prioress, Therese had to pay the ultimate sacrifice by remaining a novice so as to allay the fears of the other nuns that the three sisters would be dominating. This meant that she would never be a fully professed nun, and would have to ask permission for everything she did.

Therese energetically sought holiness in the life she led.  She did not want to be just good. She wanted to be a saint. Comparing herself to the great saints, she told herself she could aim at being a saint despite her littleness as God would not want her to wish for something impossible. She had to put up with herself, with all her countless faults, but she would look for some means of going to heaven by a little way which is “very short and very straight”.

On 9^th June 1895, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, she offered herself as a sacrificial victim to the Merciful Love of God. At this time, ordered by her prioress, Therese began to write her autobiography, ‘The Story of a Soul’. This unique book gives evidence of her spirituality. In her own words: “I just tell our Lord all that I want and He understands.”

In 1896, Therese coughed up blood. Over the next 18 months, her condition steadily deteriorated. In the months prior to her death, she prayed for the grace to “spend heaven doing good on earth” and promised that after her death, she would send a shower of roses from heaven.

Therese died of tuberculosis on Sept 30th, 1897 at the age of 24. By 1925, only 28 years later, she was canonised by Pope Pius Xl. He proclaimed her Universal Patron of the Missions, alongside St. Francis Xavier in 1927. St. Therese was conferred this honour not because she ever went anywhere, but because of her special love of the missions and the prayers and letters she gave in support of missionaries. This reminds those of us who feel that we can do nothing, that it is the little things that keep God’s Kingdom growing.

Living the Mission of Holy Mother Church: St. Francis Xavier

(Sharing at Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 12 March 2011)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Last week, we heard of the Church’s motherhood, and how we can live it. Today, we shall see how our beloved patron saint, St. Francis Xavier lived this mission. Most of my sharing materials today are from the Eternal Word Television Network website and the book “He in Malacca” by Celine Joyce Ting.

Francis Xavier was born into a noble family at Xavier Castle, Navarre, Spain on 7 April 1506. The youngest of five children, he was educated by resident chaplains of the castle and had a strong religious education.^[1] At 18, Francis entered the University of Paris. He excelled in both studies and sports, and had worldly ambitions.

In his third year, came Ignatius Loyola. Francis resented him for his gentle quietness, his ideals and aspirations so opposed to his own, and more so when he learnt that Ignatius was the soldier that brought Navarre’s downfall.^[1]They were later made roommates, much to Francis’ chagrin. However, Ignatius’ magnanimity became Francis’ own when he was eventually won over by Ignatius’ patience and kindness. His conversion was not without many serious thoughts and struggles with his conscience, having heard Ignatius repeating Jesus’ words, “What will it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”^[2] This change overwhelmed even Ignatius, who remarked that Francis was the hardest piece of clay he ever moulded.^[1]

Francis began to live all for God’s glory and for the salvation of souls, and led an austere life of self-mortification. He became one of Ignatius Loyola’s companions who were to start the Society of Jesus. They disposed themselves to the Pope’s employment wherever he deemed fit. Their ardent charity towards the sick and incurable won the attention of many, including the King of Portugal, who desired to spread the Christian faith to the East Indies. By a turn of circumstances, Francis was sent on this mission.

He braved the seas and storms to bring Christianity to our region – first to India, and later to Malacca, the islands of Indonesia and Japan^{[1, 3]}. Goa and Malacca became centres of his apostolic work in this region. Travelling with anyone or in any ship, he was only concerned in evangelising as many countries as he could. It was a Chinese pirate who was brave enough to bring him to Japan.^[1] Francis considered his vocation as a pioneer, opening the doors so that others could go in. Besides his priestly duties, he arranged for travels to new places. China was one land that he longed to reach, but never did.

Besides teaching the tenets of the faith, hearing confessions and baptising, Francis especially loved and cared for the sick and the poor. He broke through barriers of language and culture, fetters of polyglot communities where evil and “sins of the flesh” reigned, and converted our ancestors by the thousands.^[1] Once, he accounted how he could barely move his arm, fatigued from baptising.^[2]

The fruits of Francis’ short ten years of missionary labour show us “what marvels can be achieved by a person blessed by God”, expressed in the Novena of Grace prayer. By his work, he brought to birth so many more members of Christ’s Body. It was truly deserving of him to be named the Patron Saint of All Foreign Missionaries.

Francis’ kindness was not always reciprocated. The man he had nursed back to health when the Plague hit Malacca, eventually thwarted his plans to go to China, due to  jealousy and greed. He incited the people to turn against Francis when Francis decided to use his authority as Apostolic Nuncio to sail to China. Francis left Malacca feeling rejected by the very people he had loved. Amidst the struggles of his apostolic work, Francis had to contend with loneliness. Far from his own land, he often missed his companions, especially Ignatius.

What sustained him? The Sacraments and prayer. In Malacca, the Church of Our Lady of the Hill on St. Paul’s Hill was the pivot of Francis’ life. There, he said Mass daily and after a long day’s work, prayed long into the night.

Like Mary, St. Francis Xavier had believed, pondered upon and responded to God’s message, given it to the world and remained faithful to it through trials. Through him, the Church lives her motherhood. Like him, we can live this mission. In this Jubilee Year, let us implore St. Francis Xavier to pray for us, that we may live out the mission of Holy Mother Church as he did.

References: 

[1]  Ting, C.J. (n.d.). He in Malacca (1545 – 1552). Malaysia

[2]  Butler, A. (n.d.). The lives of the Fathers, martyrs and other principal saints. Vol. III

[3]  Novena of Grace (Day 8) Year A. (2008). http://homiliesofajesuit.blogspot.com/search/label/Novena%20of%20Grace

St. Francis Xavier Novena of Grace. (n.d.). From Eternal Word Television Network, Inc.: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/Grace.htm

Mary as a Type of the Church - Motherhood

(Sharing at the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 5 March 2011)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Three weeks ago, we shared about Mary as Mother of the Church, followed by a story of faith in her intercession as Mother. This week, we continue our theme of Mary and the Church by seeing her as a type of the Church. The Vatican II document, Lumen Gentium, (#63) cited St. Ambrose in stating that “the Mother of God is a type of the Church in the order of faith, charity and perfect union with Christ”.

“Type”, in this context can be interpreted as “figure” or “model”. Hence, Mary as a type of the Church simply means that Mary is a figure or model of the Church. By looking at Mary, the Church finds herself, her role and mission, because, in Pope John Paul II’s words, Mary “has gone before” the People of God in the pilgrimage of faith. Like Mary, the Church is both mother and virgin.

Today, I will share on the aspect of the Church’s motherhood. I am sure you have heard of the phrase “Mother Church”. It means simply that the Church is Mother – just as we call Mary, “Mother Mary”. I quote Fr. Josef Neuner, “Mary gave birth to Jesus’ earthly body, the Church is to give birth to the body of his faithful…” (2004, p4). How?

The Lumen Gentium (#64) states: “The Church indeed, contemplating her (i.e. Mary’s) hidden sanctity, imitating her charity and faithfully fulfilling the Father's will, by receiving the word of God in faith becomes herself a mother. By her preaching she brings forth to a new and immortal life the sons who are born to her in baptism, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of God.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: through the Church, we receive faith and new life in Christ by Baptism (CCC, #168). “Because we receive life of faith through the Church, she is our mother….” Hence, “…she is also our teacher in the faith.” (CCC, #170) “As a mother who teaches her children to speak and so to understand and communicate, the Church our Mother teaches us the language of faith in order to introduce us to the understanding and the life of faith.” (CCC, #171)

So Holy Mother Church gives birth to us spiritually, and teaches us so that we may attain eternal life. Through the Sacraments, she nourishes and sustains us in our journey to the eternal kingdom of God, and heals us when we fall into sin. Through her other children, our brothers and sisters in Christ, she supports us in our journey to eternal life. Thus, Holy Mother Church is fully mother as Fr. Neuner described: she gives life created by God in her womb, nourishes the child to make him live and grow, and accompanies him through his life and mission. This is the first, intimate task of every Christian life, Fr. Neuner wrote. (p131) Why?

It is because every Christian is a member of Christ’s Body, the Church. Having received from Holy Mother Church, we are bound to give to others what we have received. Christ’s commission to proclaim the Good News and make disciples from all nations (Mk. 16:15; Mt. 28:19) exempts no members of the Church. We are to embrace the mission of the Church, and live out the spiritual motherhood of the Church. How? Mary is our exemplar.

“Like Mary, who first believed by accepting the word of God revealed to her at the Annunciation and by remaining faithful to that word in all her trials even unto the Cross” (John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater, #43), we are to believe the Word of God transmitted by Holy Mother Church (through Bible reading, hearing it proclaimed at Mass); ponder upon it, respond freely to it, and remain faithful to the Word in trials and temptations. We avail ourselves of Christ’s help to do this by regularly receiving the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation. Then, we are able to live out the Gospel that we are called to preach, and so proclaim Christ’s salvation to others, that they may also believe and be born again spiritually. In this way, we make the Church a mother, while fulfilling Christ’s command to us.

Fr. Neuner concluded, “Mary, model of the Church, is great not by her works but through believing God’s message, responding to it, giving God’s Word its earthly life and offering it to the world.” (Neuner, p55) We, children of Holy Mother Church, are called to do the same.

Next week, we shall hear a true story of how the motherhood of the Church is lived out, and see how it impacts our lives today.

References:

Catechism of the Catholic Church

John Paul II. (25 March 1987). Redemptoris Mater. On the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of the Pilgrim Church.

Neuner, J. (2004). Mary – Mother of the Saviour. Bangalore: Theological Publications in India.


Vatican Council II. (21 November 1964). Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen gentium.

Mary is Our Mother Too (Part 2)

(Sharing at the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 26 February 2011)

In last week’s sharing, you heard the first installment of a true story of survival where a group of young boys experienced that Mary is not only the Mother of God, but also their mother.

At the ending of last week’s story, the remaining 16 boys who survived the airplane crash held nightly Rosary prayer sessions in the shell of the plane, which became a tremendous source of strength for the boys. 

Now there was a boy named Arturo. He was a rather sullen person. Even his own family found him withdrawn and hard to communicate with. One night Arturo surprised everyone by asking to lead the prayers. As he prayed, he spoke with such deep feeling that the others were struck with a new affection for him. After the prayer ended, everyone was silent.  Only Arturo could be heard weeping softly. “Why are you crying?” someone asked. “Because I feel so close to God,” Arturo replied.

Days inched into weeks. Finally, in the eighth week, signs of life began to show: a bee, a butterfly. The season had changed. It was now warm during the day. At night, however, the temperatures still dropped to well below freezing.

Two of the strongest boys, Nando and Canessa agreed to try to descend the mountain for help.  They made their final preparations for the long walk; clothes, food, maps, medications and toiletries recovered from the luggage for skin protection, a walking stick, a compass. The going was extremely difficult.  They were tied together by a nylon cord. One bad slip and both would go tumbling down the mountain. One boy began a continuous dialogue with God.  He had seen the movie Fiddler on the Roof, and remembered that one of the characters prayed this way.  “God”, he said, “You can make it tough; but please don’t make it impossible.”

Nine days later the two boys made it down. Within hours, army helicopters flew to the top of the mountain, guided by Nando, to rescue the remaining 14 boys. Everyone then gathered for a reunion and celebration in the Sheraton San Cristobel Hotel. Sorrow for those who had not returned and joy for those who had. One of the boys, Delgado, explained to his parents and newspaper writers who had gathered to hear their story:

‘When one awakes in the morning amid the silence of the snowcapped peaks – it is majestic, sensational, something frightening – and one feels alone in the world but for the presence of God. For I can assure you that God is there. We all felt it, inside ourselves, and not because we were the kind of pious youths who are always praying. Not at all. But there one feels the presence of God. One feels, above all, what is called the hand of God, and allows oneself to be guided by it.’ 

‘We had an enormous desire to live’, said Mangino, ‘and faith in God. Our group was always united. We prayed the Rosary. We kept our faith. I’ve changed. That’s the best thing about it.’

The boys gave much credit to Mary for helping them survive those 72 days. By actual count, they had repeated the phrase “Holy Mary, Mother of God” over 50,000 times in their prayers. During those 72 days on the mountain, the 16 boys experienced that Mary was not only the Mother of God, but also their mother.

In his homily on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Fr Mark Link said this:

“If we are looking for a new year’s resolution, we might do no better than follow the example of the 16 boys on the mountain.  We, too, might make the decision they made, that is, starting today, we will make prayer an important part of our life in the days ahead.

If for you, prayer is already a part of your life, why don’t we try an ever richer experience, that is doing what the boys did, to seek Mary’s help in our prayers. If we do this, we can be sure that we will experience her help, just as they did.”

Let’s end today’s sharing by praying the Salve Regina. I invite you to pray it along with me, in silence:

Hail Holy Queen, mother of mercy.  Hail our life, our sweetness, our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve.  To you we direct our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.  Be merciful to us loving advocate, and after this our exile, show us your son, Jesus. Amen.

Mary is Our Mother Too (Part 1)

(Sharing at the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 19 February 2011)

In last week’s sharing, you heard about Mary being the Mother of Jesus and spiritual mother of the whole human race.  Today, I would like to share with you a true story of survival in the most difficult conditions where a group of young boys experienced that Mary is not only the Mother of God, but also their mother.

On October 13, 1972, a small airplane carrying a rugby team, their friends and families

crashed high in the Andes Mountains. For 72 days and nights, the survivors huddled together, prayed for rescue and kept their faith. This is their story…

The boys, aged 18 – 26, who attended Stella Maris College in Montevideo, Uruguay, loved to play rugby and shared their deep religious faith. Now the team was to play against the national team of Chile, a country 900 miles to the west.

The flight path from Uruguay to Chile includes a dangerous stretch through the Andes Mountains.  (If you can imagine by looking at the map here, the Andes Mountains are here.) Weather conditions are changeable. Wind and blowing snow can make visibility poor.  The pilot would need all of his skill to navigate safely through the mountains.  The Andes Mountains are steep and very high. The sharp peaks pierce the sky like jagged teeth. Nothing grows at this height and in the winter, the temperature plunges to -40 degrees.

As the pilot began his path through the mountains, the airplane developed trouble and as it hit an air pocket, it dropped through the clouds. The right wing hit the mountain and broke off, taking the tail of the plane with it. Then the left wing broke away. This left the body of the plane hurtling down the mountain at top speed and crashed in the deep snow.  Incredibly, 32 of them survived but some were badly injured. 

The weather was below zero degrees, but none of them were dressed for the cold weather and few suitcases with extra clothing could be found.  As night closed in, the 32 survivors huddled together in the broken section of the plane and comforted each other. Many were in severe pain and shock.

The next day, three more people had died during the night.  The team captain, Marcelo, made an inventory of all the food on the plane. It would have to be rationed carefully, in case they were on the mountain for a longer time. The food was not enough for so many people.

Some of the boys took for granted that they would be surely rescued that they helped themselves to the food that Marcelo had been guarding. Upon discovering the missing food, Marcelo was furious. ‘Don’t you realise you’re playing with our lives?’ he pleaded.

Meanwhile, family and friends began to arrive from Uruguay to keep a vigil for their lost loved ones.  They waited, prayed and kept their faith.   A search and rescue mission was set out to search for the airplane day after day. They faced heavy snowfall, howling winds but the force of the Andes was overwhelming, and all search efforts came up empty.

On the eighth day, search parties from Chile, Argentina and Uruguay abandoned their efforts.  This news reached the survivors over the plane’s radio which one of the boys had restored to operation.  The crash victims then realised that if they were to survive, it would have to be on their own.

On the 17^th day, all of a sudden, the crashed plane had been struck by an avalanche. Frantically, those who could breathe and could move began digging for their friends who were buried in the snow.  But, when it was over, eight more lay dead.

At this point, the remaining 16 boys made an important decision.  They decided to hold nightly prayer services in the shell of the plane. Around nine o’clock, when the moon dropped below the mountain, they would stop all talking and one of the boys would begin the Rosary. The nightly prayer sessions became a tremendous source of strength for the boys.  Some boys who were not particularly religious began to experience a remarkable awareness of God’s presence during the prayer sessions.

End of the first installment, next week, you will hear how the boys managed to find their way out and how their testimony gave much credit to God and Mother Mary for helping them survive those 72 days.

Mary, Mother of the Church

(Sharing at the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 12 February 2011)

1.  This quarter’s sharings will be on the theme of “Mary and the Church” and today’s sharing is titled “Mary, Mother of the Church”.

2.  How is Mary, Mother of the Church? Human existence in the presence of God and our openness to God’s Word is a response in body, mind and heart to God’s work of salvation that has most beautifully been revealed in Mary.  She was chosen to be the mother of Jesus not merely to give Him human life. In motherhood she was drawn into the mystery of salvation. ^[1]   

3.  Upon humankind’s first descent into sin, Satan and humankind were made enemies of each other: “Your offspring and her offspring, It will crush your head and you will strike its heel”.^[2]  This passage foretold the salvation of humankind through the mother of the Saviour who stands at the side of her son in his Messianic triumph over Satan.^[3]    

4.  At his death on the cross, Jesus Christ gave birth to the Church. The peak of Mary’s discipleship is shown at the foot of the cross when Mary, at the darkest moment of her experience, remained faithful to Christ. In this way she cooperated out of love so that there might be born in the Church the faithful.^[4] Jesus said to his mother, “Woman, this is your son.” To the disciple He said, “This is your mother.” ^[5]

5.  From ancient times Mary was seen not merely passively engaged by God but as freely cooperating in the work of humankind’s salvation through obedience, faith, hope and charity in the work of the Saviour to restore the supernatural life of souls.^[1]   

6.  Mary is a precious gift of the Saviour to each follower, meant for their spiritual support.^[3]  We are the adoptive and spiritual children of Mary and Mary is the Mother of the Church.

7.  We are spiritual children because, all through His life, Jesus directed his disciples towards developing a Spiritual rather than a Fleshly relationship.^[6]   

8.  How do we show our love, gratitude and devotion to our own earthly mothers? Do we honour Mary our spiritual Mother likewise? As a pilgrim church we should check our devotion to Mary on six ways:^[7]    

1. The one who is devoted to Mary thinks of her – as someone we admire and love;

2. The devoted reads about her – through Scriptures, the Lives of the Saints, Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe and so on;

3. We talk about her – when our devotional thoughts flow from mind to heart to lips, sing wholeheartedly for example at the Novena, of our love and praise for her;

4. We speak to her – in plain conversation, speeches are not required for she is alive and accessible. We are not ashamed to express our gratitude with all our heart to her for answered prayers in thanksgiving letters at Novena; expressing our gratitude is the best way to oppose addictive self-love;

5. We invoke her – asking consciously, heartedly, confidently, as she invoked Christ at Cana^[8] and

6. We try to imitate her in her obedience, simplicity, humility, love, faith, hope and burning charity.

9.  Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.^[9]  The blessed one who believed is present in the midst of the pilgrim Church from generation to generation through faith and is the model of hope which does not disappoint.^[10]  She is our Mother, and Mother of the Church.

References

[1] J Neuner SJ. Mary, Mother of the Saviour. 1995; 2. Theological Publications India, Bangalore.

[2] Genesis 3:15

[3] J Neuner SJ. Mary, Mother of the Saviour. 1995; 42. Theological Publications India, Bangalore.

[4] Ioannes Paulus PP II. Redemptoris Mater. On the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of the Pilgrim Church. Part I Mary in the Mystery of Christ. 3. Behold Your Mother. 1987 03 25. Page 12. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031987_redemptoris-mater_en.html

[5] John 19:25

[6] Ioannes Paulus PP II. Redemptoris Mater. On the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of the Pilgrim Church. Part I Mary in the Mystery of Christ. 3. Behold Your Mother. 1987 03 25. Page 13. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031987_redemptoris-mater_en.html

[7] J A Hardon SJ. Devotion to our Lady (six norms). Catholic Education Resource Center. http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0943.htm

[8] John 2:3

[9] Luke 11:28

[10] Ioannes Paulus PP II. Redemptoris Mater. On the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of the Pilgrim Church. Part VIII Maternal Mediation. 2. Mary in the Life of the Church and of Every Christian. 1987 03 25. Page 30. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031987_redemptoris-mater_en.html

Further Reading. Lumen Gentium. Vatican Council II. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. Chapter VIII Our Lady. 21 November 1964. http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

A Crown of Roses A Day - A gift of prayer in conjunction with the SFX Golden Jubilee Year

(Sharing at the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 22 January 2011)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Last week, we announced about “A Crown of Roses A Day”. Those of you who have been attending this Novena might have guessed what we meant. Yes, it is about the Rosary, which comes from the Latin word rosarium, meaning a garden or garland of roses. Recall what St. Louis de Montfort wrote in The Secret of the Rosary? Every five decades of the Rosary devoutly prayed is a little crown of heavenly roses which we place on the heads of Jesus and Mary. So the complete Rosary is a large crown of roses, which is the gift that we want to give to Jesus and Mary as our Parish Golden Jubilee gift.

For three months last year, we have shared on various aspects of the Rosary. We hope that all would be spurred to pray the Rosary daily. That, is the ultimate goal of proposing “A Crown of Roses A Day”.

Last year, our BECs and several non-parishioners started hand-making and sponsoring rosaries for the poor under the SFX Parish Assembly – May Group 2010 project. They made more than 2500 rosaries and are still counting. And so this year, we would like to invite you to spiritualise our gift to them. How? By praying the Rosary for each and every one of them. On its own, the rosary beads may be meaningless to a hungry stomach, but with prayers attached, it gives some hope of changing the situation. We place their needs in God’s hands. This proposal comes with a firm believe in what the Rosary can do to and for those who pray it faithfully.

Praying the Rosary daily would sanctify our Golden Jubilee Year. This is in line with our Parish Priest, Fr. Simon Yong’s call for a renewal of holiness in this year of grace.

At the same time, we pray for ourselves, our nation and the Church, thus rekindling the Christian hope that we are called to live and bear, especially in today’s climate of despair.

These three main objectives are encapsulated in the 5 special intentions of our prayer, one for each decade of the Rosary.

Let me explain now how we can weave “A Crown of Roses A Day” together. Everyday, at least four persons will pray the Rosary, each a different set of mysteries, to make a complete Rosary of 20 mysteries a day as a parish. We will start on our parish anniversary date, 2 February, and we will pray until every recipient of our rosaries is prayed for.

We hope that you, devotees of our Blessed Mother, would take the lead in this. To participate is simple. Check for empty slots in the roster on the SFX website, or outside the Santa Maria della Strada Chapel. Choose a set of mysteries and a date to pray. Register your name in the empty slots. You may register to pray only once a day, so that the complete crown would be a collective effort. However, you may register to pray for any number of days. You may pray anywhere and anytime of the day.

No reminders will be sent, as it is your own commitment to God, but please do keep your prayer appointments faithfully. You may use the cards available outside the chapel to remind yourselves of your respective slots.

In case of contingency empty slots, we would like to contact pray-ers to fill up the slots and pray them. If you are able to take up a slot at short notice, you may register to be a SOS Prayer Warrior. Leave your name and contact in the box outside the chapel, or register online.

If you happen to notice empty slots about a week before its actual date, we would encourage you to sign up for those slots if you can, so that our gift remains unbroken. You may also encourage others to pray, or initiate groups to pray “A Crown of Roses A Day” and register as a group or BEC. Please do also help those who have no Internet access, sick or elderly or home-bound to register as pray-ers.

More information is available on the SFX website or outside the chapel.

Together, let us realise this spiritual gift. It is a gift for our poor brethren and our gift to Our Lord and Our Lady. Ultimately, may it be a pleasing Parish Golden Jubilee gift to God our Heavenly Father.