On Christmas Eve 2024, the late Pope Francis opened the Jubilee Year by opening the Holy Doors, which now draw to a close on the Solemnity of the Epiphany. While the physical doors close, we are reminded that the door that truly matters is the door of our hearts - called to remain open in mercy, love, and forgiveness. Crossing the Holy Doors was an invitation to encounter God's mercy and to become doors of mercy to others. As we begin the new year with the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, we are assured that we are not alone - Jesus is Emmanuel, God is with us. Guided by Mary, we entrust ourselves to the Lord, praying that His face may shine upon us and grant us peace.

- Saturday Novena Devotion by Fr. Sikstus Bapa Atawolo, C.Ss.R. (3 January 2026)

For our Lord, this phrase refers to mothers. The first person every human being relates to is your mother. And Mary is the mother who rocked the cradle of Jesus.

In this Christmas season, Fr Glenn reflects on the birth of Jesus, the truth that changes everything. God has chosen to come close to us. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”

God did not save us from afar, through Mary, He entered our human condition to share in our joys, struggles, hopes and our fears.

Yet on Christmas Eve, there was no room for the Holy Family at the inn, every room was occupied. Similarly, most of us do not reject Jesus, we are simply too busy, our lives are too full of everything else. However, the innkeeper offered what he could, a stable. This gives us hope, because all Jesus needs is a small space, a humble heart that be made holy by welcoming Jesus. Pope Leo calls us to make room for Jesus in our hearts, to help one another.

Mary is the hand that rocks the cradle, that’s why we ask for her intercession.

Let us ask ourselves, with the help of Mary, the mother of Jesus, what small space can I offer Jesus?

Novena Devotion by Fr Glenn De Cruz, C.Ss.R. (27 December 2025)

In this advent homily, Fr. Ino reflects on the candle of love. He invites listeners to contemplate the depth of God's love through what he calls "reverse creation" - when God becomes human. The all powerful, all perfect God chooses not to appear as an angel or a mighty being, but as one like us - fragile, human, and vulnerable. This, Fr. Ino emphasizes, is the clearest and most tangible proof of God's profound, self-giving love.

This divine love is all embracing and inclusive, showing Jesus' encounters with those rejected by society, such as the Samaritan woman and Zacchaeus. Hence, Fr. Ino challenges us to reflect on the boundaries place around our own hearts, sometimes mistaking isolation for security. This Christmas, he invites everyone to pray for the grace to frow in love - to be a little kinder, more caring, and more open.

Saturday Novena Devotion by Fr. Victorino Cueto, C.Ss.R. (20 December 2025)

The theme of the 3rd week of Advent is joy. How do we feel the joy of Christmas in the midst of all our struggles?

Fr Simon reflects on his upcoming 28th Sacerdotal anniversary and the word ‘appreciation’ comes to mind. Appreciation of encounters with people of faith who still trust in God despite their sufferings, people who have supported the Novena church and all these have contributed to the joy of his priesthood. With this attitude, let us appreciate whatever blessings others have brought unto us and lift us up in joy.

We also ask God to give us joy in the midst of suffering.

- Saturday Novena Devotion by Fr. Simon Tan, C.Ss.R. (13 Dec 2025)

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)