HAPPY EASTER TO ONE AND ALL :D !!!!

Hope springs from the tomb. And hope is not just an optimism, which sees the more pleasing side of a reality ignoring the other side. The hope brought by Jesus' resurrecion transforms everything. Mary goes to the tomb perhaps to see Jesus once more, even just his dead body. Instead, she will be led to see Jesus who is alive. The two disciples who return to Emmaus have seen their hope of arrival of Israel's glory dashed into pieces by Jesus' death. Instead, Jesus rekindles a flame in their hearts and reveals to them the far greater glory of the Messiah who has to suffer.

The believers instead look at the empty tomb and see in it Jesus' victory over death and their own destiny, too. Man has been rescued from the claws of death. Where, O death is your sting? Jesus has conquered death. This is not just an assurance that despite everything, things will turn in the right direction. This is an assurance that everything has turned out marvelously (for Him and for us). For His life and destiny are also ours.
excerpts, 365 Days with the Lord, Easter Sunday

The Crucifixion of Jesus

Gospel : John 19:25-34 ( Jn 19:25-34 )

The Word
"They did not break his legs" --- The Johannine Passion of Jesus enables us to reflect better why we call this day "Good Friday" :
The Passion of Jesus is theophany. Jesus is not a helpless, pitiful victim. He reminds Pilate that he is King. He breathes the Spirit even as he Breathes his last. He establishes a community represented by his mother and the beloved disciple.
The Passion of Jesus is victory. Earlier in the Gospel, in his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus alluded to his crucifixion: "Just as Moses lifted the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life. ( Jn 3:14 ). At Calvary, Jesus may be dangling on the cross as a condemned criminal, but in the eyes of the evangelist, he reigns as king. His death sentence, written in three languages, is a universal proclamation of this kingship: "Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews".
The Passion of Jesus is saving. John brings in the image of the lamb of the Israelite Passover. Hyssop was used to paint the doorposts of the Israelites with the blood of the lamb. The bones of the Passover lamb were not broken when eaten. Now, a sprig of hyssop is used to make Jesus drink wine. And not one of his bones is broken. Clearly Jesus is the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world ( Jn 1:29 )"
365 Days with the Lord, Good Friday (Fast & Abstinence) RED

26-27 : When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom Jesus loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother" And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
Mary is given a role as mother of Christians (personifed by the beloved disciple [John] ); or, as a representative of those seeking salvation, she is supported by the disciple [John] who interprets Jesus' revelation; or Jewish and Gentile Christianity (or Israel and the Christian community) are reconciled.

29 : There was a vessel filled with common wine..
John does not mention the drugged wine, a narcotic that Jesus refused as the crucifixion began [Mark 15:23, but only this final gesture of kindness at the end [Mark 15:36]

30 : Handed over the spirit: there is a double nuance of dying (giving up last breath or spirit) andthat of passing on the Holy Spirit [John 7:39] which connects the giving of the Spirit with Jesus' glorious return to the Father, and [John] 20, 22, where the author protrays the conferral of the Spirit

34 : ..and immediately blood and water flowed out
In the blood and water there may be also a symbolic reference to the Eucharist and baptism
The New American Bible

2 Sundays

Friar Rowland teaches us about the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Passion of Jesus Christ

"Follow Me"

Following Jesus is for the simple, the available, the vunerable. Those who are filled up with themselves have no room for Jesus. Following Jesus is for those who are open, who are not so touchy whenever their egos are pricked, and who are willing to be corrected and learn from their mistakes

365 Days With The Lord

links to share

Ash Wednesday has passed, signalling the start of Lent, a Liturgical Season of (actually) more than 40 days as we approach Good Friday.

During the start of this Season :

From the Friar's Desk
Friar John Paul Tan, OFM, takes a trip down memory lane as he gives his tribute to his mentor, fondly titled "A Life Recalled - Fr Alban James Mitchell, OFM". You can find the abovementioned in the Bulletin column of Church of Saint Mary of the Angels' official website (starting link on the left)

Don't Stop "Enjoying"!
Father Aloysious "i learnt some Signs from Friar Rowland :) !" Ong shares his thoughts
you can either click here
or if you'd like more manual practice ;) the link is below
http://alongcorner.blogspot.com/2006/03/dont-stop-enjoying.html

Our Photos!

Please click here to view!

29 January 2006

Apologies for not posting for a long time, we've been busy with SCDC gatherings, vocation obligations and Chinese New Year preparations!

let us share what we did on 29 January 2006


Every last Sunday of the month we have Mass in the Franciscan Chapel. It has been a long time since Father John Wong celebrated Mass. He gave the interpreters the day off--He Signed! The interpreters hope he celebrates Mass in the Chapel more often ;)

Epiphany

"The gifts brought by the Magi have significance. Gold is a symbol of wealth and fidelity. Frankincense is burned to purify the atmosphere by releasing an aromatic and pleasing smell. For centuries, Native Americans have burned holy smoke in order to bless and purify themselves, and monks have watched incense rise to the sky as a symbol of their prayers ascending to God. Myrrh is a kind of resin or oil used for anointing and embalming. It is a symbol of comfort and soothing...but it is also a foreshadowing of death."

Epiphany: Following the Star (Article 443)
Lisa-Marie Calderone-Stewart
Saint Mary's Press

Happy New Year!

It was a wonderful Sunday, Mass with our friends from the North :D ! SCDC-SPI/IHM and SMDC (fka SCDC-SMOTA) gathered at St.Mary's to celebrate the first day of 2006. Excited "hi"s and lots of catching up with one another continued during lunch until we parted our ways..what a beautiful way to start-off 2006 :) !

This Sunday SMDC will travel "up North" to meet SCDC-SPI/IHM :)

Merry Christmas!!!

"For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but so that through him the world might be saved."
John 3:16-17 NJB (New Jerusalem Bible)

Franciscan Friars On Retreat

All the Friars from the custody will be going for their annual retreat from Mon, 5th Dec '05 to Fri, 9th Dec '05

(Church of St.Mary of the Angels > BULLETIN > THE PARISH SCENE)

Barbeque coming soon!

There will be a barbeque on Sun 18 December 2005 at the friary's recreation rooooooooom after at 10.45 am Mass (everyone waits for the bell to ring for God's food)! All are invited...smile, God provides us his delicious food. No worry...No cost... You remember what the Bible says.

A Friar's Sharing

Our humble leader Friar Rowland shares his trip to Rome for the Fifth South Asian Conference For Pastoral Workers For The Deaf in Rome, Italy 7-14 October 2005 and visting Assisi, where St.Francis of Assisi based the Order of Franciscans (Ordo Fratrum Minor)

Charlie Dittmeier, another particpant shares his experience about this year's Conference. Click here to find out :) !

All Saints' Day Mass 1 November

SMDC will be attending 10.45am Mass

Friar Rowland away 6-27 Oct

still see us on Sunday 10.45am Mass, St. Mary of the Angels :)

Friar Rowland scheduled his initial return date on 6 November.

eagerly waiting for his early return!!! So much to learn :)

Fr George Bertrand, S.G.

SCDC (Singapore Catholic Deaf Community) bids a fond farewell to our Chaplin Father George Bertrand, S.G. (Brothers of St.Gabriel) who is leaving end October back to Canada for good.

Merci beaucoup Father George :)

Friar Rowland away from 19-29 August 2005

Any queries please email Friar Rowland as stated on the left, he will read them all when he returns

God Bless :)

BBQ

T'was one hot and sunny afternoon as some of the students from Friar Rowland's Sign Class and SMCD members gathered for BBQ (barbeque). Too bad Trix (Friar's Rowland beagle) was spared..LOL!!! naaw..he's a good doggie ;)



Friar Rowland took some time to get the grill all fried up. Thank God we had help from Friars Derrick and Joe Nathan. Most of us lent a helping hand while yours truly, the roving reporter, held Trix and his leash in one hand while the other with the handphone taking candid shots with my handphone.

Here's a tongue twister for you :
Friar Fried Fryer Fried Flyed Fried Friar Fried
(Friar heated the frill, the grill heated, he fried the food and "flew" to the fried food and of course, he got "fried" by the grill standing there so long)



While the guys , a bevy of ladies prepared the salad in the kitchen. I had a hard time restraining Trix..








God Creates food to be eaten, not to look at..duh-uh ;p