ASIA/SINGAPORE: A new missionary impetus to the faithful of the city state
Saturday, 25 June 2022
Singapore (Agenzia Fides). “I believe that God, through Pope Francis and the Synod, gives us the grace of new opportunity to renew and empower the Church, empower its member and make them truly living missionaries, faithful with an evangelistic mentality”: This was what William Goh, Archbishop, stated to Fides following the 2022 Archdiocesan Meeting, where delegates representing various parishes, organizations and religious orders gathered to reflect on the synodal, which began last year.
Msgr. Msgr. “Many delegates said that they gained a lot from listening to others in the group. They have a better understanding of the wider needs and challenges of Christ, which goes beyond the interests of their own parish, ministry, or organization. He remarks that people’s love for God was shown by their willingness to spend two days at the Archdiocesan Assembly. He says that despite all the controversies and shortcomings of the Church, people still believe in a better church, which makes me feel even more comforted and makes me cry.
“The clergy, religious, laity, and priests are insufficient, weak, or both.” He adds that everyone has a desire to work together and share responsibility for the Church as members of Christ’s Body.
Over 600 priests, religious, laity and religious from 32 parishes and over 200 archdiocesan institutes, institutions and parishes gathered to discuss the future direction of the local Church in Singapore. The Archbishop shared the responsibility of reaffirming baptismal promises and being priests, kings, and prophets as “baptized” and “envoys” with the participants. Five delegates were sent by the Dominican laity from Singapore to pray and reflect about how the Church can respond the the current challenges. “The Holy Spirit has given to me the grace of empathizing with the Church’s cry and with its needs. James Chen of the Dominican Laity in Singapore says that, just as Saint Dominic preached with a heart full love for the people God, I have realized the proclamation faith is more than a message against heresy and error. “After two years of isolation from pandemics, it’s been amazing to be able contact with so many brothers. In our intense discussions, we were able to hear each other clearly and the Holy Spirit was present. These meetings have helped us better understand the spiritual needs of society and to discern how Order of Preachers can be authentic missionaries of God’s Word of God,” says Mrs. Estella Young, also a Dominican laity. Sister Marcia Vanderstraaten said, “The synodal confrontation demonstrated how the fruits our contemplation must truly be shared with others in the evangelization society.” About 360,000 Catholics make up the archdiocese of Singapore. It covers the entire island. Singapore is multi-religious and multiethnic, with an estimated population 5.6 million. The majority of Chinese are Buddhists, while the majority of Malay people are Muslim. About 15% of the population are Christians. (SD/PA) (Agenzia Fides, 25/6/2022)
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Source: fides.org
