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1
S p o t l i g h t
Rev. Anthony Hutjes
Parish Priest
Rev. Suyono Gerardus
Assistant Priest
Rev. Remi Liando Assistant Priest
B l e s s e d S a c r a me n t C h u r c h , 1 C o m m o n w e a l t h D r i v e , S ( 1 4 9 6 0 3 ) T e l : 6 4 7 4 0 5 8 2 , F a x : 6 4 7 2 6 5 4 5 E m a i l : s e c r e t a r i a t @ b s c . o r g . s g
WEBSITE: http:/www.bsc.org.sg
Spotlight Email : [email protected]
May 2011
Jesus
Christ
Is
Risen
Today!
Alleluia!
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3
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Submission of articles No Later Than 12th
of
each month.
Email your article to:- [email protected]
Please include your name, contact number
and address. The editorial team reserves the
right to edit any articles for publication.
Articles must not be more that 450 words.
Binding Date : 26th
May 2011 Thursday
Articles for this Month’s Issue
Editor’s Note Pg 19
Kid’s Contest Pg 14 Youth Lenten Campaign………. Pg 6
Fr Damien Feast Day…………… Pg 7/8
Room Wanted…..………………. Pg 8
Mary Our Mother………………. Pg 8/9
Friday Vigil…………………….. Pg 9
Spiritual Retreat
Majodi Centre, Plentong……… Pg10
Workshop for Parents………… Pg 11/12
Who is Life Worth Living For… Pg13
Peranakan Mass..……………... Pg 14
Search My Heart………….…. Pg 14 to 16
Twin Reading Room…………. Pg 16
SILRA – A Story of Love Untold Pg 16/17
The Servant of God –
FrAnthony Hutjes……………… Pg 18/19
Chinese Articles………………. Pg20 to 27
Washing of Feet – An Amazing
Experience…………………….. Pg 28
Spiritual Director Rev Anthony Hutjes
Editor Gerard Pereira
Editors Conny Fernandez
Editors (Chinese) Louis Ling
Catherine Chia
Writers Thomas Ng
Patricia Ang
Andrew Juniper Lee
David Woon
Artists Anastania Tania
Karen Goh
Photographer Ian Carnegie
WEB Administrator Charmaine Misquitta
Production Joseph Low
Marian Yeo
Martha Lim
Mary Ang
Rose Khoo
Katherine Tan
Elizabeth Lye
Maureen Leong
Susan Teo
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YOUTH LENTEN CAMPAIGN FOR THE POOR 2011
“I always thank God for you because of his grace given to you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 1:4 The past seven weekends saw the youths of this parish working their hardest to make the 2011 Lenten Campaign a success. We would thus like to thank the following people for adding to this success:
Firstly, thank you to the three priests, our Parish Priest, Father Anthony, Father Suyono and Father Remi, and Brother Paul Molina – for always motivating us and allowing us, young people, to find our ground in this parish.
Secondly, thank you to Andrew, our Pastoral Worker – who has kept us, youths in check when it came to the campaign. He has taught us to always ensure that everything has been smoothly planned out.
Thirdly, Gary Chia, Vice Chairperson of Ex-co, for being there to encourage us and for assisting us with the accounts.
We would also like to thank these organizations that have helped us raise funds through their wide variety of food in the canteen: • Catholic Neighbourhood Groups (CNG): Chairperson - Paul Tan • Gospel messengers: Chairperson - Clare Chan • St Francis Music Ministry: Chairperson - Richard Phua • Catechists: Chairperson - Edwin Soo • Filipino Legion: Jane Antique • Chinese Pastoral Council: Chairperson - Matthew Tserng
And thank you to these groups of people who have helped in other ways to also contribute to the Youth Lenten Campaign 2011: • Maundy Thursday food stalls: Convener - Auntie Maria Lee & Joseph
Chung • Job week cards: Catechists – Chairperson - Edwin Soo • Donation from the Saturday Breakfast - Delfin Pereira & Team • Hot Cross Buns – His Vineyard –Chairperson -Damien Chiew (Donation of Hot Cross Buns by Alpha) • Gerard Pereira– for putting up or weekly announcements on the LCD
screen at the lobby • Donations from Thrift Shop - St Vincent De Paul – Chairperson – William
Koh • Uncle Joseph, Uncle Richard Chua, Uncle Mani and Aunty Cecilia – for
helping us store the items needed for the ‘Barang Barang’ Sale • Donations from the Movie Night – Alpha- Chairperson – Richard Lowe
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Fr Damien Feast Day
• Donation from Judith • Donation from Auri Cordia Choir
Alphonsus Chung - Chairperson for Lectors, Stella Sebastian -
Chairperson of the Wardens and Doris - Chairperson of Welcoming Committee for making time so that we could rehearse for the opening and closing mass.
Of course, the campaign would not have been successful without the contribution of our parishioners whether in cash or kind.
We would also like to extend our appreciation to the parents of all youth groups who had helped out in one way or another. Finally, thank you to all the youth groups – Act1v8, Antioch, Altar boys, Legion of Mary Juniors [Chinese] and Legion of Mary Juniors [English] for taking the time and sacrificing your weekends to help raise funds for this campaign.
As youths of Blessed Sacrament Church, we are glad to be given this chance to do our part for the needy. We are proud to be the soldiers of Christ and will always remain in our line of duty. Yours in Christ, Isabelle Ilankovan Outreach I/C BSCYouth Committee
In celebration of Fr Damien Feast day on May 10 2011, there will be a movie titled St Damien of Molokai screened at the Damien Hall @7.30pm on Saturday, 7 May 2011 Tickets are $5.00 (inclusive of a hot dog and drink) which are available at the church office. (All proceeds are toThe Fr Damien Society)
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ROOM WANTED BY SINGLE MALE CONTACT : CLEMENTI
98509501
Room Wanted
May is the month of the Glorious Virgin Mother Mary On the wall by the grotto of Our Lady at St Bernadette Church are inscribed the following beautiful prayer of confidence:
Memorare Remember, most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
– St Bernard of Clairvaux
This prayer had featured prominently in the almost overnight miraculous conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne from Judaism to Catholic. I must entreat you to read his first-hand account and that of eye-witnesses at http://www.archive.org/details/theconversionofm00bussuoft Doctor of the Church St Bernard (1050 - 1153) was a most devout son of Our Lady. In his May 1953 encyclical titled St Bernard of Clairvaux, the Last of the Fathers, Pope Pius XII wrote: “To this warm love of Jesus Christ was joined a most sweet and tender devotion towards His glorious Mother, whose motherly love he repaid with the affection of a child, and
Mary Our Mother
A Novena to St Damien will be said at all masses from May 2 to May10 2011. And also as part of the celebration, a special mass will be celebrated for our friends from the Silra Home (Singapore Leprosy Relief Association) on Saturday, 28 May @ 10.30am in the church followed by light lunch and entertainment at Damien Hall.
“Were it not for the constant presence of our Divine Master in the Holy Chapel. I would not have found it possible to persevere in sharing the lot of the afflicted.”
Fr Damien Of Molokai
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whom he jealously honored. So great was his confidence in her most powerful intercession, that he did not hesitate to write: ‘It is the will of God that we should have nothing which has not passed through the hands of Mary.’ Likewise: ‘Such is the will of God, Who would have us obtain everything through the hands of Mary.’” (Paragraph 30).
It’s May, the month of the glorious Blessed Virgin Mother Mary, again. What a fitting time for us to know and love her little more daily as we bask in Easter joy!In On Prayers During May for Preservation of Peace, April 29, 1965, The Venerable Pope Paul VI began this encyclical as follows: “The month of May is almost here, a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. Our heart rejoices at the thought of the moving tribute of faith and love which will soon be paid to the Queen of Heaven in every corner of the earth. For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God's merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother's throne.”
The popes have particularly recommended the recitation of the Holy Rosary. “This prayer helps to put Christ at the centre, as the Virgin did, who meditated within all that was said about her Son, and also what he did and said. When reciting the Rosary, the important and meaningful moments of salvation history are relived. The various steps of Christ's mission are traced. With Mary the heart is oriented toward the mystery of Jesus. Christ is put at the centre of our life, of our time, of our city, through the contemplation and meditation of his holy mysteries of joy, light, sorrow and glory… It contains within itself the healing power of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, invoked with faith and love at the centre of each ‘Hail Mary’.”
– Pope Benedict XVI Andrew Juniper Lee
Vigil in Honour of the Sacred Hearts Date: Every 1st Friday
Time : 10.00pm (All are welcome)
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BSC CATHOLIC NEIGHBOURHOOD GROUPS INVITE ALL
ITS MEMBERS TO A WEEK-END SPIRITUAL RETREAT
IN MAJODI CENTRE, PLENTONG,
ON FRI 1st TO SUN, 3rd JULY 2011
Retreat Master : Msgr Eugene Vaz
____________________________________________________________________
Cost per participant: $70 (twin sharing, air-con room) Leave BSC on Fri 1 Jul at 8 pm in chartered buses to Majodi Centre, Plentong Return from Majodi Centre on Sun, 3 Jul after lunch at 2.00 pm _____________________________________________________________________ Please submit this form with full payment by 15 May to your Zonal/Group leaders or Church Secretary
I, ________________________________ (as in NRIC) from ___________________ (Zone) wish to participate in the above Retreat. My particulars are:- Passport No: __________________________ Date of Birth : _______________ Date of Issue: ____________________ Date of Expiry: ____________________ (Age) _______ Contact No: __________________ Amt Paid/Date_____________ ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. My room-mate’s particulars are: Name: ____________________________________________________________ Passport No: ______________________ Date of Birth : ___________________ Date of Issue: ___________________ Date of Expiry: _____________________ (Age) _______ Contact No: __________________ Amt Paid/Date___________
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As part of our effort to promote Christian values among families,
Family Life Ministry is organising workshops for parents. These
workshops aim to address some of the challenges we face with our
families on media, discipline, communication, etc.
The sessions will be conducted on Saturday afternoons (while our
children are having their catechism sessions). This is a good opportunity
for us to know more about how we can tackle such issues and to further
enhance our family ties.
The following is the proposed schedule for the workshops:
1. Parenting in Internet Age (Cyberwellness) 7 May (Sat), 4pm –
5.15pm
2. Effective Discipline 30 Jul (Sat), 4pm – 5.15pm
3. Effective Communication with Your Teens 1&2 27 Aug (Sat), 3pm
– 5.15pm
4. Five Love Languages (For Couples) 24 Sep (Sat), 4pm – 5.15pm
Venue / cost: St. Matthew Room / Love offering.
For our logistics planning, please indicate your interest on Reply Form
by Sat, 23 April.
For any enquiries, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you & God Bless.
Yours-in-Christ,
Edwin SooEdwin SooEdwin SooEdwin Soo
Coordinator for Catechists
HP: 8123 8168, [email protected]
Workshop For Parents
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To: Family Life Ministry (BSC)
Feedback Form
WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS
(Please tick to indicate your interest so we can plan for the logistics).
We are Participating in the following workshop/s.
Not participating
S/n Topics Date Please
tick
1. Parenting in Internet Age
(Cyberwellness)
7 May (Sat),
4pm
2. Effective Discipline 30 Jul (Sat),
4pm
3. Effective Communication with
Your Teens
27 Aug (Sat),
3pm
4. Five Love Languages (For
Couples)
24 Sep (Sat),
4pm
Names of Parents:
Participant 1: (HP: )
Participant 2: (HP: )
Parents of
Child 1: (Pri. / Sec. )
Child 2: (Pri. / Sec. )
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Who is Life Worth Living for?
Life Worth Living is for everyone!
It’s especially geared to: • People interested in investigating Christianity • Graduates of Alpha who want to keep growing • Christians who want to brush upon the basics • People wanting to start studying the Bible. • People interested in the letter to the Philippians
WWWWhat Happens at LWL?hat Happens at LWL?hat Happens at LWL?hat Happens at LWL?
We enjoy a series of talks on topics including: Week 1: New Heart Week 2: New Purpose Week 3: New Attitude Week 4: New Responsibilities Week 5: New Friendships Week 6: New Confidence Week 7: New Ambitions Week 8:New Resources Week 9: New Generosity
After each talk there is a small-group time for everyone to discuss any questions or issues they have. This gives an opportunity to get to know each other as real friends and to learn together.
When and Where? 26 May to 28 July
7.45 pm to 9.30 pm Damien Hall @ Thursdays
Light refreshments will be provided during Coffee break For information or to register please 93853381 Richard or 92395562 Anne or email [email protected] or register on line www.alpha-bsc.sg
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Peranakan Mass
Sunday, 22 May 2011
10.45am Mass will be celebrated in English & Peranakan by
Rev. Fr. Alfred Chan & Rev. Fr. Gerardus Suyono SSCC
Search My Heart
Patricia Ang
Sometimes it feels that I am walking on this journey all alone by myself.
Anxieties and uncertainties are always there. So many dreams yet how do I
achieve them? Closed doors, unkind words spoken negative vibes given, pain of
hurt and rejection that have been suppressed deep within my heart, who can
understand what I am going through. God can. Despite what I am going through,
I am thankful that He is there for me in this journey.
As I prepare myself for the upcoming Prayer Experience Retreat, lots of
reflections are going within me. We were told to go for the Sacrament of
Reconciliation before our retreat.
I am glad that I managed to go for my confession at Novena last Saturday. What
a light feeling it felt after the confession. There was the feeling of anger and
Editor’s Note: Due to overwhelming articles for this month, the children’s
contest will be postpone to June’s Issue. Sorry for the inconvenience.
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pride that weighed me down over the past few weeks. This was caused by the
people that were close to me. That feeling of being pushed aside as a friend or
frustrations being vented upon in the family, what a helpless feeling. Yet in the
midst of all these, I focused on doing my DAFF assignments, going for evening
mass, reading the bible and praying for to be sustained each day by the Lord.
That Saturday evening I was down at Catholic Spirtuality Centre for healing mass.
The praise and worship songs were just a joy to sing with the community.
Somehow what Fr Goh spoke in his homily reflected what my friend and I were
talking about earlier. The need to forgive and to grow in faith. One of my fellow
CER participants Jo Siah gave her testimony. It was very touching and somehow
in there, the message for me was to forgive.
The greatest obstacle is the inability to forgive from our hearts. So long as we still
harbor grudges and resentment against those who have hurt us, our hearts will
remain frozen and we will not be able to open ourselves once again to love.
Never did I image how much grudges and hurt that I was keeping in my heart. The
message for me that night was to ask for the grace to forgive and to grow in the
grace of love and faith. As I stepped forward for the healing session, I asked the
Lord to speak to me. During the praying over session I rested in the spirit. I felt the
heat coming over me and He spoke. The message was "Come to me, all you who
are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). What a timely
message.
Finding forgiveness from God entails remembering His goodness and
fidelity to the promises He made to us. Forgetting God's kindness and
benevolence is the cause of ingratitude towards others. We give up hope only
because we fail to realize that God will make things right for us. St Paul advised
us “Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God’s anger do it. For the
scripture says, ‘I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.’”(Rom 12:19)
We must show our sincerity to change our behavior and to walk in His ways. Only
by fearing God, not a slavish fear, of course, but having great reverence for His
love and mercy, will give us the impetus to respond with love and give the strength
to live by His Word and by His Laws and wisdom.
I am going to let go of the anxieties, and let God take over. This includes the
directions that I am going to embark on in my career, dealing with the people
around me. Can I soften my heart and not be insistent in my ways? Can I let go of
pride and the need to be in control? Can I learn to listen and forgive?
I am thankful for the opportunities given to me this period. For the presence of
friends whose encouragement and support having been my pillar of support. For
God’s grace and his peace with me.
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For his unconditional love, his forgiveness and compassion. Search my heart
Lord, allow me to empty myself each day, and be filled with the gifts of the Holy
Spirit. Show me how to be an instrument for your glory.
Twin Hearts Reading Room (Library) Saturday 4.00 – 5.50pm & 7.00 to 8.00pm
Sunday 8.30am to 1.00pm & 6.30pm to 7.00pm
Weekdays (Mon to Fri) 9.00am to 11.00am
All are Welcome
Special Mass for SILRA Home Residents-
A Story of Love untold
There is a story that goes around of a girl, who isn’t exactly of decent looks.
She’s only got eye pockets, is wheel-chaired bound and has stumps instead of
fingers. Nobody said anything about looking beyond her physical appearance and
so nobody did. Legends that passed from generations to generations spoke of her
as an outcast, to be stoned, and probably best forgotten.
One day, a not-exactly-so-handsome prince happened to chance upon her.
After knowing her, he experienced her kindness but also felt her loneliness.
Unknowingly, this acquaintance grew to become an attraction over time. So, like
every love story, he wanted to date her out.
Concern for her safety was the top priority. The not-exactly-so-handsome
prince cannot take her for horse riding around the vast countryside due to her
physical constraints. They also cannot enjoy an intimate boat ride along the river
that leads to the sea because she cannot row without fingers. There is also
concern about her physical appearance that would attract stares and unwanted
attention.
Vexed, the not-exactly-so-handsome prince gathered all his court advisors
for a solution. Nobody knew what to do so the not-exactly-so-handsome prince
was sad. When he woke up the next morning, he managed to drag himself out of
bed. Looking in the bathroom mirror, he realized that he is, after all, not so great
looking. He has curly and fizzy hair, small eyes, big nose and a dingy round his
waist. The only reason he is accepted in his palace is because he is born a prince.
So why should physical appearances be an issue, he thought? If his family and
people can accept him, they would do the same for her too. He decided to invite
waist. The only reason he is accepted in his palace is because he is born a prince.
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her to his palace.
The not-exactly-so-handsome prince decided to impress his date with his
paraphernalia of courtship tools that day! Together with some of the prince’s elite
knights, he planned to pick her up in a Pumpkin Carriage, they would attend mass
together in the palace, and this will be followed by a banquet of food and drinks,
and entertainment of song and dance in the dining hall before ensuring that she
return home safely.
This story is an exact portrayal of Faith Music Centre and its relationship
with The Singapore Leprosy Relief Association (SILRA) Home.
Recapitulating the year 2008, I would pick our visit to the SILRA Home
and acquaintance with its residents as the most impressionable. I am sure most of
my colleagues with the Father Damien Society and Faith Music Centre will
second my opinion. Hearing all the horror stories about leprosy, we have to admit
we were hesitant at first. However, we learnt that our fears were unfounded
because they were already cured. 2 and a half year on, 8 beautiful music
performances later, the acquaintance of two strangers has turned into attraction.
The Father Damien Society and Faith Music Centre will be collaborating to
invite residents and caregivers from the SILRA Home for a mass in the Church of
the Blessed Sacrament. Mr Food and Mrs Drink will be present at the Damien
Centre Hall after the mass. Mdm Music will show up with students from the all
the 4 branches of Faith Music Centre in Queenstown, Commonwealth, Toa Payoh
and Kovan. So here’s the royal invitation to join us that day.
Date: 28 May 2011 (Saturday)
Time: 10.30am (Special Mass for SILRA Home residents in Church)
12.00pm (Food, Drink, Music & Dance at Damien Hall)
1.00pm (Home Sweet Home)
Venue: Church of the Blessed Sacrament
Oh, if you would like to volunteer or seek more information, please do not
hesitate to contact [email protected] or contact 6472 8106. We need
all the help we can get hor!
On the notty side, Frivolous Music Centre, sorry, I mean Faith Music
Centre also courted other old aged and children homes to share the joy of music
to those less fortunate. Within the next quarter, they will be who our music lived
for- Peacehaven Nursing Home, Society of the Aged Sick, Good Shepherd Loft
and Chan Su Lan Methodist Welfare Home. We are also in talks with Ling
Kwang Home, the National Kidney Foundation, Moral Welfare Home in
Henderson and the Blue Cross Thong Kheng Home for more music
performances. If you have time, talent and the willingness to join us to share with
the residents of old age and children homes, please do not hesitate to contact us
ya! Alvin C H Yeo (For Father Damien Society & Faith Music Centre)
“Learn in Faith, Serve with Love”
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The Servant of GOD - Fr Anthony Hutjes translated & updated by Thomas Ng
To celebrate BSC's 40th Anniversary, an article of the above title was
written in Chinese on Fr Anthony in the Sep 2003 issue of Spotlight. As
Fr Anthony is now our parish priest and will be celebrating his 75th
birthday in April 2011, I hope to translate the article into English as a
dedication to him and information for parishioners - the following is the
translated article with additional information on the books that he has
authored.
A highly educated and linguistic person who willingly detached from
the luxurious living of the world, with all his heart and mind to serve the
Church - this is our reputable and respectable Fr Anthony Hutjes.
Among the three non-Chinese priests, Fr Anthony is the only one
conversant in Mandarin. He is respected by parishioners because he is
friendly, easygoing and able to get along with them. He is also playing
an important role for the Chinese-speaking community of the Church.
Shortly after being ordained in 1973, Fr Anthony was sent to serve BSC
in Singapore, together with two other priests. All of them belong to the
Congregation of the Sacred Hearts (SS.CC.). At the beginning, Fr
Anthony found difficulty adapting to an environment with a high
standard of spoken English. However, as time passed, he fell gradually
in love with this small nation and decided to settle here and serve the
parishioners.
Fr Anthony was born in a small family. His parents had passed away but
he has a younger brother who graduated in sociology and a younger
sister who is warm-hearted and caring. Both of them are married and Fr
Anthony goes back to Holland to meet them once in every three years.
Graduated with a university degree in Holland, Fr Anthony had the
intention to further his education in Dutch literature and linguistics in
order to take on a teaching career. However, in today's materialistic and
utilitarian society, he felt that it was more meaningful to seek a life of
contributing to the community. Finally, he found Jesus the Saviour, and
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he firmly believed that by offering himself to God, he would receive
abundant blessings in his vocation.
Blessed with God's favour, Fr Anthony
is not only a talented and scholarly
genius, he is also a gifted linguist.
Besides being fluent in Dutch and English,
he also speaks French and German, and
can even read Latin and Greek. His good
grasp of Mandarin is admirable in the parish.
His favourite hobbies are reading and writing. In fact, he has published
5 books (available at our bookshop and priest house):
• The Catholic Church: Its Teachings. Its History. Its Prayers
• The Catholic Church: A Deeper Perspective
• The Catholic Church: Selected Homilies For Personal Reflection
• A Catholic View on Marriage & Sexuality
• The Spirituality of Our Congregation of the Sacred Hearts
He also enjoys learning about modern technologies, especially
computers and IT (Information Technology) gadgets. In reality, he is an
expert at leveraging IT for his ministry!
Fr Anthony hopes that the parishioners of BSC can live and grow in
faith together as well as to bear wider responsibilities (in ministries). He
also hopes to see more youngsters answering the call for vocations.
Let us take Fr Anthony Hutjes as a role model to build up our parish
community and form it into a big family. Let us hope that with the help
of God and Mother Mary, we can all work together to spread the Good
News to non-catholic friends, and to bring them into this big family and
share the grace of God.
Editor: I have postpone my write-up Only for this May’s
Issue as there are too many articles for this months
contribution.
The Priests of BSC and the Spotlight Team would like to
wish everyone a Blessed & Happy Easter.
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On 20th
April the morning of our CNG gathering, I received a SMS from our
leader. “ ref to my email last night, can you provide light Christian music for we
will be doing washing of the feet”
That message got my heart doing a double beat. Wow. .. this is The Night to
look forward too. The whole day, in the office, my ear plugs was on, listening,
playing all the music that I have . My colleague must be thinking that I’ve gone
nuts. Finally, selected the hymns The Summons , You are Near , You are Mine .
5.30pm came, see me packing super fast, switching off my pc and dashing to
catch our company’s bus. On reaching home, set up necessary equipment for
testing and ensuring that the ambiance is suitable for this special occasion.
Members started streaming in around 7.30pm. Crowd was more than the
normal, A headcount of 16 was accounted for. Mind you, most of them do not
know the theme of the night, Praise the Lord. It was a cool night after the rain. ( I
have prayed for a cool night,My Lord answered my prayer.) As there were lots of
flies, a member suggests putting a basin of water under the light to attract them.
Lo and behold, the flies disappeared.
Members were settled down. Not knowing the reason for the basin that our
leader brought in, many were curious and another member joking comments, “Hi,
washing of the feet, true or not…. “
As usual, we started the meeting with a hymn “ You Are Near” followed by
prayer , bible reading (Jn 20:1-9). We have personal sharing from few members
thereafter we closed with intercessory prayer.
Washing of the feet commence…… our leader and one of the member took
turns to wash all the 16 members’ feet. We end the gesture with moving around to
exchange of hugs and peace to one another. Most were teary when they were
hugging. It was a touching scene to witness!
The gesture of hugging although small speaks volume. Love for each other,
love for God, God’s love for us, transcend through this free, small and simple
exchange gesture. We have a birthday celebration for two of the members and a
pot-luck too. It was also a night to remember for all!
Thanks Cecilia for such a bold suggestion!
Wishing one and all a Holy & Blessed Easter. HE IS ALIVE!
Sign off : CNG C’wealth Drive
Washing Of Feet –
An Amazing Experience