In this second week of Advent, Fr. Prabhu reflects on the Bethlehem Candle, the candle of peace. Just as Bethlehem—small, noisy, and unnoticed—was chosen to receive the Prince of Peace, so too our own hearts, often messy and overwhelmed, are the very places where Christ desires to enter. True peace, he reminds us, is not the absence of problems nor the ability to control life’s circumstances. Christian peace is not something but Someone—Christ Himself.

Through the story of a child assembling a world-map puzzle by focusing on the image of the Good Shepherd behind it, Fr. Prabhu shows that when Christ is at the center, the pieces of our lives come together. Peace begins in the heart, then flows to families and the world. As we light the Bethlehem candle, we pray: “Lord Jesus, enter the Bethlehem of our heart and bring peace to every broken piece of our lives.”

- Saturday Novena Devotion by Fr. Antony Prabhu, C.Ss.R. (6 December 2025)

In today's homily, Fr. Antony Prabhu shares that he once felt lost and directionless, unsure of his vocation and carrying an emptiness nothing can fill. Yet he kept returning to Novena Church, where through Our Mother of Perpetual Help, God worked quietly within him - like a hidden seed growing beneath the soil. This, he says, is the meaning of Advent: Christ who come, who will come again, and who is here present now in all our struggles.

We observe four weeks of Advent because spiritual growth cannot be rushed. Week by week, the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love slowly brighten our hearts. This first week focuses on Hope. Christian hope is not wishful thinking but trusting in God's faithfulness even without answers. And we are called to share this hope with others.

- Novena Devotion by Fr. Antony Prabhu, C.Ss.R. (29 November 2025)

We celebrate The Solemnity of Christ the King tomorrow. Fr. Vincent reflects on a portion of the gospel reading from Luke 23:35-43 about the crucifixion scene with Jesus and the two thieves.

The first thief was unrepentant, but the second thief (the “good” thief) showed 2 qualities that were praiseworthy -

1. Sincerity - he was sincere to admit his wrongdoing and accept punishment for his crime. I messed up and deserve to be punished

2. Humility - he is humble enough to turn to Jesus and say, “remember me as you enter into your Kingdom" and hence Jesus gave him the most precious of all gifts, the gift of redemption at the final moment of his life.

What has this story got to do with us?

When we make a mistake, are we sincere to admit our wrongdoing and apologize? Do we reach out to those we have wronged?

Most of us don’t, instead we tell “white” lies; we try to cover it and minimize our mistake, but a lie is a lie, a lie is not telling the truth.

When we tell lies, it causes great pain and undermines our relationships with others because of insincerity and dishonesty.

Repentance and remorsefulness gained the good thief the blessing of redemption for Jesus.

Let us ask Mother Mary to intercede for us to follow these qualities of sincerity and humility which are also found in Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

- Novena Devotion by Fr Vincent Low, C.Ss.R. (22 November 2025)

In today’s homily, Br. Albert Khoo reflects on the call to care for God’s creation. From Genesis, we are reminded that God brought beauty and order out of chaos and entrusted humanity with the mission to be faithful stewards of the Earth. Creation is not just a backdrop to our lives but a sacred gift that sustains us, and its care remains our responsibility today.

Through the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we see how to live as humble stewards. Mary’s simple, open-hearted “yes” to God shows us how to live in harmony with His will and to receive creation as a gift, not something to exploit.

Caring for creation is ultimately a spiritual journey. By living with gratitude, reducing waste, and making choices that protect the Earth, we echo Mary’s openness and say our own “yes” to God

-Novena Devotion by Br. Albert Khoo, C.Ss.R. (15 November 2025)

‘Lord increase our faith’ - this was the disciples’ request to Jesus, despite living with him and witnessing all the miracles.

Have you asked Jesus to increase your faith?

We may pray intensely, do novena devotion, come to church, attend mass regularly and be involved in ministries but none of these guarantees genuine faith. This is because the way we live our lives is opposite to practice of our faith.

Pope John Paul II outlines 4 important aspects of faith:

1. Seeking- faith is a gift from God but we need to seek and let it grow and increase our understanding. We can do that by reading the bible, religious books and listening to homilies

2. Accepting the truth of the teaching- even if it is difficult

3. Consistency-how do we put into practice? We show our faith throughout daily interactions

4. Constancy-we live our faith for eternity, like Mother Mary, always saying yes to God

Let us learn from Mother Mary to stand strong in our faith in Jesus no matter how bad things are. If we put all things in God’s hands, we will see God’s hands in everything.

- Novena Devotion by Fr. Sikstus Bapa Atawolo, C.Ss.R. (8 November 2025)

This weekend, the Church celebrates two deeply meaningful feasts - All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Though different in focus, both reveal one unified truth - our call to holiness and our unbreakable connection with all who have gone before us in faith.

Our Common Call - we are called to be saints in our daily lives, not perfect but faithful and persevering.

The Communion of Saints - we are connected in one big community with the saints and all souls in purgatory. This bond of love, forged in Christ, is stronger than death itself. While the saints intercede, for us, we in turn, pray for souls awaiting union with God. This serves as a reminder of the power of intercession.

Hope Anchored in God - death is not the end but a beginning. God's grace surpasses our imperfections, and hope keeps us moving forward. Through the weekly devotion letters, we are reminded to be a community of hope.

Fr Terence invites us to put our faith into action. Each action enables us to move closer towards sainthood and our heavenly destination.

- Novena Devotion by Fr. Terence Wee, C.Ss.R. (1 November 2025)

Victor Franco who is a psychiatrist who witnessed tremendous suffering in Auschwitz who discovered that our greatest prison lies in our mind and so does our greatest liberation.

The way we perceive our hardships can either be hopefully or hopelessly.

Fr Eugene reflects that for those who have hope they can still feel joy and peace in the struggles as they feel God accompanying them, they are not abandoned. They believe in eternal life as God has promised.

In the acceptance and finding meaning amid the suffering, we detach from the unnecessary and direct us to put God back in the centre of our lives.

Everyone has struggles. No one here is immune to difficulties but everyone can find meaning through God especially in times of suffering

In Philippians 4:11-13, St Paul says “I have learnt to be content in whatever the circumstances. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

May this be our prayer and direction today.

Novena devotion by Fr Eugene Lee , C.Ss.R. (25 Oct 2025)

in today's homily, Fr. Antony Prabhu reflects on Pope Leo XIV's title for Mother Mary "Mary, the Synodal Woman, one who never walks alone but journeys with all people in faith." Drawing from Scripture and her quiet strength, from the Annunciation to the Wedding at Cana and Calvary, Mary shows herself to be a model of listening, bridge-building, and unity, guiding the Church to walk together as one.

Linking this to Singapore's own story of racial and religious harmony, Fr. Antony reminds us that true communication s built when we open doors with genuine welcome, build bridges through listening, and tear down walls through reconciliation. Like Mary, we are called to choose unity over division and walk together in faith towards Jesus, who unites all hearts.

- Saturday Novena Devotion by Fr. Antony Prabhu, C.Ss.R. (18 October 2025)

Br. Celestine tells of St Gerard Majella who inspired his vocation. This year we commemorate the 300th birth anniversary of St Gerard Majella. Saint Gerard was a Redemptorist lay brother known as a miracle worker with deep relationship with the Lord and also a patron for expectant mothers and childless couples. There was a legend of a lady with a difficult pregnancy who, with the help of his handkerchief, eventually had a safe delivery of a baby boy.

This Thursday 16/10/25, we celebrate his special feast day, the 3rd centennial anniversary of St Gerard’s birth, do join us.

- Novena Devotion by Br. Celestine Toh, C.Ss.R. (11 October 2025)

In this homily, Fr Vincent reflects on the recent 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu and the remarkable resilience of the Filipino people. Despite devastation, loss of lives, and homes destroyed, their faith in God remains unshakable.

Fr Vincent reminds us that faith is not a feeling but a conviction: trusting in God even when we don't understand, surrendering control, and believing that with God nothing is impossible. He challenges us to reflect on our own journey - do we truly trust God, or do we rely only on ourselves? Like the mustard seed that can move mountains, our faith, however small, can make the impossible possible.

He concludes with a call to pray for the people of Cebu and for our own hearts, that we may grow in faith and trust in God.

- Novena Devotion by Fr. Vincent Low, C.Ss.R. (4 October 2025)