As we journey through Advent, we reflect on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, culminating in the adoration of Jesus in the manger on Christmas Day.

Do we feel hope as we prepare for Christmas? The Prophet Isaiah reminds us that "those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31).

The second week focuses on peace, reminding us of Jesus' words: "Peace I leave you; my peace I give you." Fr Sikstus reminds us that reconciliation through confession will allow us to experience this peace deeply.

The third week, Gaudete Sunday, highlights joy - salvation is near, and we are called to rejoice.

The fourth week centres on love, symbolized by the Angel's Candle, and reflects God's unconditional love through the gift of His son.

On Christmas, we light the white candle, celebrating Jesus as the Light of the World.

Fr Sikstus calls us to reflect, reconcile, and respond to God's call as we prepare to welcome Jesus into our hearts. Like Mother Mary, we pray also for the courage to say "Yes" to God's call.

-Novena Devotion by Fr. Sikstus Bapa Atawolo, C.Ss.R. (21 December 2024)

Advent is a beautiful season, but it’s easy to feel spiritually unprepared amidst the holiday rush. This week’s theme, inspired by St Alphonsus’ hymn Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle, highlights God’s incredible love and humility as the Creator who became part of His creation through Jesus Christ. Reflecting on Genesis and the true meaning of Christmas, we’re reminded that Jesus came to show us how to live. Redemption reorders our relationships—with God, one another, and creation—calling us to live in love and harmony as God intended.

- Novena Devotion by Fr. Gerard Louis, C.Ss.R. (14 December 2024)

In today’s homily, Fr Simon Pereira reflects on the theme of humility, drawing inspiration from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians. He reminds us of Jesus’ ultimate humility: though He is God, He chose to become man, taking the form of a servant and humbling himself even to death on a cross. This humility led to His exaltation, demonstrating the profound relationship between humility and God’s grace.

All of us have a DNA in spiritual life and the DNA is humility. With humility, God will raise us up. Fr Simon shares confessions of individuals returning to the Sacraments after decades. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are transformed because of our humility. This Advent, let humility guide us to reconciliation and the joy of salvation, as we embrace the profound love of Emmanuel.

- Novena Devotion by Fr. Simon Pereira, C.Ss.R. (7 December 2024)

In this heartfelt sharing, Fr Simon Tan reflected on his journey of discovering the power and presence of God through Scripture, personal prayer, and ministering to others. He recounted his own struggles with understanding the Bible as a young man and how a transformative moment in prayer led him to experience God's Word as active and alive.

He calls on families, especially parents, to set an example for their children by prioritizing prayer, Mass, and reflection. As we enter the Advent season, we are reminded on the need to prepare our hearts by allowing the Word of God to transform us, bringing meaning and joy to our celebration of Christmas.

-Novena Devotion by Fr. Simon Tan, C.Ss.R. (30 November 2024)

In this homily, Fr Antony Charles shares a story about a man stranded in the Atlantic Ocean and who was miraculously rescued by a helicopter from nowhere. Salvation, like the man's rescue, is a gift that we cannot earn through our own efforts but comes through Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

While salvation is freely offered, we must respond to it by embracing the sacraments, living a life of obedience to God, and witnessing through good works. Salvation demands cooperation from us - a cooperation of God's grace and human's freedom.

The example of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a model of cooperation with God's grace. Her steadfast faith and obedience to God's Will led to her eternal union with Jesus in heaven. Similarly, can we do the same and not take for granted?

-Novena Devotion by Fr. Antony Charles, C.Ss.R. (23 November 2024)

This week’s theme, “Longing for the Christ Child, the Centre of My Life,” invites us to reflect on the question: Is Jesus truly the centre of my life? While we may profess faith and know doctrine, how personally do we know Him?

By recognizing Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we can experience His transformative love and centre our lives on Him. Responding to God’s call to love Him with all our heart, soul, and strength leads to inner and outer transformation. Through daily prayer, humility, and spiritual growth, we journey toward Christlikeness, renounce selfishness, and reflect His love to the world.

- Novena Devotion by Fr. Peter Wee, C.Ss.R. (16 November 2024)

Today is the 292nd anniversary of the founding of the Redemptorist Congregation by St Alphonsus Liguori in 1732.

Fr Glenn reflects on his vocation journey- did he have doubts? Second thoughts? Yes he did. The opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. If one is certain of God’s love for them, why would they need faith? And in discerning one’s vocation, there is doubt. It is about taking the risk, that first step, trust, mingled with doubt to discern if God is calling you to that way of life. Similarly, we take risks in our lives- whether a new job or new relationship or singlehood- we step forward in faith, mingled with 2nd thoughts.

Faith is like life, full of ups and downs. Like the heart monitor, if it is flatlined, we are dead. Let us pray to Mother Mary for more vocations to the Redemptorists.

-Novena Devotion by Fr. Glenn De Cruz, C.Ss.R. (9 November 2024)

It's good for us to reflect on the darkness within ourselves and around us.

As we prepare for Advent, we reflect on the theme, Birth, the Light of the World. We associate darkness to the moments God is absent in our lives, the moments we fall into sin, or when evil, selfishness, pride, cruelty and greed rule over us. With the birth of Christ, the light illuminates the darkness in our lives. He's the ray of light that cuts through our darkness. In Jesus, we find hope, joy, peace and strength to live each day positively.

As we also celebrate All Souls' Day, remembering someone we lost can also make us feel dark and painful. But through Jesus, we believe that death is not the end, and we rejoice in the promise of a reunion with our loved ones in heaven.

-Novena Devotion by Fr. Terence Wee, C.Ss.R. (2 November 2024)

Today we begin the advent novena reflections. The theme for this special novena is Jesus Christ, A Christmas Gift, God’s Love for us.

In this first week of the advent novena, Fr Yosef reflects on the Annunciation - Trust in God. We all know about the story of Mother Mary and angel Gabriel. God’s plan is often full of surprises and beyond our understanding. God’s ways are not meant to confuse us but to invite us to trust him even when we don’t understand.

Trusting God does not mean that our lives will be free of difficulties, but it assures us that He is in control, and He will always hold our hand and never let us walk alone.

Remember that trust is not about knowing what will happen but knowing who is in control.

Let God be God

- Novena Devotion by Fr. Yosef Andris Umbu Damu, C.Ss.R. (26 October 2024)

Many of us encounter challenges that can seem insurmountable, such as relationship conflicts, illnesses, or personal hardships. These struggles are often conveyed through letters of petition. However, amidst these difficulties, there are also times of thanksgiving, when individuals express profound gratitude, as evidenced by letters of thanksgiving.

While struggles may persist, Fr. Vincent reminds us of the importance of faith in God and trust in the intercession of Mary, even when answers do not come immediately. When we come to the Novena to pray, we pray as a community, and we continue to walk together in hope. We are never alone.

-Novena Devotion by Fr. Vincent Low, C.Ss.R. (19 October 2024)