We honour our mothers this weekend remembering their acts of love and we also think of our heavenly mother, Mother Mary’s love for us.

1.Essence of a mother’s love-Love for children

For mothers, her children are her blessings. E.g. in the petitions that we hear week after week-mothers are praying for their children and even family members. Why do mothers go that extra mile for their children? It is their love for their children.

2.Challenges of motherhood

Mothers endure a lot of sacrifices for their children. E.g. balance of work and family, health issues, complexities of this world of being parents. Let us appreciate the challenges that they have to endure. Even more so as a single parent. We look towards Mary who suffered, even as her son was being tortured, she still kept her faith in God, knowing that God is in charge.

After the annunciation, Mary shouldered the responsibility of protecting and nurturing the foundation of faith even though the death threats from Pharaoh were forthcoming. She saw her son dying cruelly on the cross. Mary was there for Jesus from start to end. She is there for us as well. That’s what our mothers do so well, they teach us the resilience, they teach us the faith, they keep us going, growing and glowing and this is the gift of you mothers.

Let us make a conscious effort to be with our mothers and parents, showing them love.

Happy mothers’ day and a blessing to you all always!

- Novena Devotion by Br. Celestine Toh, C.Ss.R. (10 May 2025)

We sometimes can't help but come to church with a lot of doubt but leave with a lot of faith -- and the reverse for others. Doubting as a human experience was known in the lives of the apostles, with Thomas wanting proof from the resurrected Christ. If we trust in God, we wouldn't need proof.

When we let God manage our lives, we can be sure it will be done according to the will of God. But if we deal with our own matters, then we will face all sorts of defeat, pain, confusion, sorrow and desolation. Faith will defeat doubt when we trust Christ.

Jesus promises us that no matter how we doubt, and how we fail, the final journey towards to the end will be eternal life. These moments are temporal, and we do not walk alone.

- Novena Devotion by Fr. Eugene Lee, C.Ss.R. (3 May 2025)

Mary believed in her son’s resurrection and trusted in His words and promise that He is alive and will rise from the dead. At the annunciation, Mary became the link between Christ’s humanity and our own. At the resurrection, Mary completed this link by cooperating with Jesus to restore our relationship with God.

Mary’s role in the resurrection is that of a silent witness and an intense participant. Although Mary suffered the darkness of Christ’s passion and death, she never lost her faith in God’s plan. She teaches us that faith does not guarantee the absence of suffering, but it does promise that suffering is not the end of the story.

Her continued YES offers us a model of total surrender and faith in God’s divine will. Her faith journey shows us how to move from the cross to the resurrection, for, despair to hope, from death to life.

- Novena Devotion by Br. Albert Khoo, C.Ss.R. (26 April 2025)

As we enter into Holy Week, let us reflect on the passion and suffering of Christ. Many of us are suffering, be it illness, cancer, depression, isolation, or caring for sick loved ones. We also recognise that God, who loves us, also suffered -Jesus suffered false accusation, pain, persecution, humiliation and torture. The passion of Christ invites us to be open to see that that suffering is part and parcel of life.

Let us ask for the grace and strength to see the meaning and purpose of our suffering.

There are people who despite their suffering, are still joyful and trust God. They are living testimonies of faith for us. We ask our Lord, who is our redeemer, our source of strength in our pain and sorrow, to grant us the grace and strength to carry our crosses, our suffering and to unite our suffering with that of the Lord.

- Novena Devotion by Fr. Simon Tan, C.Ss.R. (12 April 2025)

In the process of upholding righteousness, there will be high chance we will face storms and some persecutions. Rightiousness disturbs. It exposes lies. It confronts injustice. And it refuses to bow to demands of society or the world. Often, this can only be done if we're strongly rooted and anchored in Christ. When suffering or persecution happens to us because of our faithness towards righteousness, or our action in trying to bring about justice, we should have the ability to embrace it with an open and graceful heart. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Let's all strive to join them in this beatitude.

- Novena Devotion by Fr. Terence Wee, C.Ss.R. (5 April 2025)

This week's reflection focuses on the seventh Beatitude: "Blessed are peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Fr. Gerard reminds us that true peace isn't won through conflict but through justice, respect, and dignity for all, especially the vulnerable.

While we may not be global negotiators, we can be peacemakers in our daily lives – at home, work, and within our communities – by responding with kindness, patience, and treating everyone as a child of God. Small acts of justice and compassion contribute to building God's Kingdom of peace. Let us strive to be God's mediators of peace in our world.

- Novena Devotion by Fr. Gerard Louis, C.Ss.R. (29 March 2025)

We have been reflecting on the beatitudes or blessings of God. Today we reflect on the sixth Beatitude, to be pure in heart (meaning holiness), but is this possible in our modern times and circumstances?

When our heart stays close to God, it remains pure but when it drifts away it becomes clouded and impure.

The heart is the core of who we are. To see God means to have a deep relationship with Him. We glimpse God’s presence through prayer, friends, nature and one day we will see God face to face.

Who can truly claim a pure heart? On our own, it is impossible but with God everything is possible. Sin may cloud our vision of God, but only God’s promise and grace can restore us. “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10). Seeing God is the greatest reward of remaining in purity.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Novena Devotion by Fr Antony Prabhu, C.Ss.R (22 March 2025)

In the Lenten Journey in the Beatitudes this week, we are called to reflect on the gift of mercy. Fr. Yosef emphasizes that mercy is not just about forgiveness but also about patience, compassion, and generosity. Jesus calls us to forgive continuously, and though it may be difficult, it is possible if we have love in our hearts. Mercy involves making space for others, showing empathy, and being understanding even when people hurt or disappoint us.

Fr. Yosef shared an anecdote about how people react differently to a beautiful girl, illustrating that a heart filled with love does not judge or envy but instead responds with kindness and acceptance. He encourages everyone to pray for the strength to forgive and to draw closer to God during this season of Lent.

- Novena Devotion by Fr. Yosef Andris Umbu Damu, C.Ss.R.

Let us reflect on today’s beatitude:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice (righteousness), for they will be filled.

1. What is ‘Hunger and thirst’? It is a deep desire and insatiable longing for something i.e. St Augustine- ‘Our hearts are restless until it rests in your Lord.’ Restless until we have that one thing- righteousness

2. Righteousness-It is the justice that comes from God i.e. the right way of life taught by Jesus.

3. We desire for the way of love, mercy and justice to become a reality in this world. As followers of Christ- we should be restless, disturbed if righteousness is not a reality. Only when we are in such a state where we constantly desire justice, and righteousness can we be at peace-filled of our hunger and our thirst.

We look at St Oscar Romero- who spoke up for justice and righteousness even unto death. Despite that he was at peace.

Do we have hunger and thirst for righteousness of God to be present in our lives and our surroundings? Do we play our part when we see injustice around us? Or do we just keep mum and continue our daily living? Jesus challenges us to bring more justice in the world today.

-Novena Devotion by Fr. Terence Wee, C.Ss.R. (8 March 2025)

The Beatitudes is a call to think like Jesus. When we face injustice and violence, we want justice and vengeance. But we must seek out a different attitude and mentality and deny ourselves. It’s a call to adopt a heavenly perception of things, to have the mind and heart of Jesus. That way, the blessedness of belonging to the kingdom of God will grow in us.

- Novena Devotion by Fr. Peter Wee, C.Ss.R. (1 March 2025)