WALKING IN FAITH AND NOT SIGHT

Children may be educated by school and tuition teachers, catechism instructors, and even the media - but parents are still their “primary educators” and have the main responsibility of educating their children with moral, ethical, and religious values. Home is where we teach our children to be tender, compassionate, forgiving, respectful, faithful, loving and caring. The book of Proverbs says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it,” (Proverbs 22:6). When we train, educate and raise our children in the right way, they will discover and rediscover their purpose, and not turn away from us.

This Sunday (12 February), catechism classes officially begin for the year 2023. There will be a spiritual orientation and briefing for children and parents in the St Giles’ Room at 9.30 am. So far, we have a total of 117 students registered for catechism classes, from pre-school to Form 5. There are a total of 24 teachers who have committed themselves to the catechetical team. We also have 10 teachers under the supervision of Sr. Assunta Leong - to coordinate RCIA candidates - which will be available in three languages. This Easter Vigil, we may have 15 candidates who will receive their Sacrament of Initiation, 8 for the Sacrament of Confirmation and 2 will be received into the Catholic faith.

 

During our Parish Pastoral Assembly, one of the findings was on Mass attendance and our youth involvement in Parish activities. We want parents to make an extra effort to focus on our children’s faith and bring them back for Weekend Masses and catechism classes. As a Parish community, we have a crucial role in strengthening the faith of our younger generation by supporting, encouraging and, most of all, praying that they will grow in the life of the Church and serve in holiness.

 

Catechetical Sunday was on 29 January 2023, and we celebrated with the theme “Renewing the Church with Families of Faith” (cf.1 Cor 16:13-14). It is of utmost importance that everyone in the family “be watchful, and stand firm in the faith, and be courageous and strong,” (cf. 1 Cor 16:13-14). At the end of the Mass, all catechism teachers and RCIA facilitators came forward and renewed their commitment to the faith education of our children. During the Mass, Archbishop Julian Leow blessed all the catechism teachers and RCIA facilitators after commissioning them as faith instructors. We will have, once again, commissioning of faith education on the spiritual orientation and briefing day, for the children and parents. We expect everyone involved to be present.

 

We would like to thank all our catechism teachers and RCIA facilitators for their rededication to the mission of the Church and for being witnesses of the Gospel. May the Lord guide and inspire you as you continue in our Parish Catechetical Ministry. We are solely and completely responsible for transmitting our faith, deepening the knowledge of God - from fear to faith in Christ Jesus - so that our children may walk by faith and not sight. We will build and rebuild their future together, by the grace of God.