Novena Preaching @ Novena Church

As we move into the Easter octave, we reflect on the meaning of Easter and being Easter people. The corresponding readings of the Easter Octave show how various people respond to the reality of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. The chief priests responded negatively by trying to cover up the resurrection as fake, the disciples didn’t understand and were confused, but later encountered...

Week 6: Embracing the cross, Redemption through Jesus’ sacrifice; Redemptive suffering - no cross, no resurrection. "Not I, Rabbi, surely?"- Judas’ response to Jesus serves as a reminder to all of us that we sometimes betray Jesus in many ways. Our repeated sins crucify Jesus over and over again. Judas separated himself from Jesus’ love. When we cut ourselves from the source of love, Jes...

In this homily, Fr. Terence reflects on the Gospel of the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-45) during this Fifth Week of the Lenten Novena - "Jesus leads us to true choices." Reflecting on the Lazarus story, he emphasizes two key insights. First, God sometimes seems to delay. In moments when hope fades and prayer feels dry, we are challenged to hold onto faith. As he notes, "the opposite of faith is...

We reflect on this week’s gospel of the healing of the blind man by Jesus as well as last week’s gospel of Jesus’ encounter with Samaritan woman at the well. The healing of the blind man symbolizes the healing and transformative power of Jesus Christ. Born blind, sitting on roadside begging for alms before Jesus entered his life, and after Jesus heals him, he gains sight, follows Jesus and gives t...

In today's homily, Fr. Glenn reflects on the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Although Jews and Samaritans avoided each other, and men rarely spoke publicly with women, Jesus crosses these social boundaries and begins a conversation with her. Instead of accusing her of her past or her broken relationships, Jesus speaks first to the deeper thirst of her heart. He off...

Longing for Mystery, trusting in the unexplained presence of God We are still in the season of the lunar New Year, and this year is the year of the horse, the horse symbolizes strength and determination How can the horse inspire us in our Christian faith? One feature is its focus. The horse that wins the race actually wins not just by strength but by its focus. And just as blinkers keep a racehors...

In this homily, Fr Simon Tan reminds us that temptation is part of every human life — regardless of age or vocation. Even Jesus faced temptation during His 40 days in the desert. Temptation itself is not a sin, but giving in weakens our relationship with God. During this Lenten season, Fr Simon invites us to become more conscious of the spiritual struggles within our hearts. Through prayer, sacrif...

Today’s theme is ‘To God be the glory’. Ultimately the goal of Christian life is to glorify God eternally. How do we give glory to God? How do we glorify God when everything belongs to God. We can taste and experience God’s glory and take part in giving glory to God. We look to our blessed mother and St Irenaeus of Lyon who said, ‘The glory of God is when humanity is full alive.’ We are not fully...

Beginning with the story of a little girl drawing God, Fr. Glenn reminds us that although we cannot see God directly, we encounter Him in the love we show one another. Through the painful story associated with Holocaust and "Where is God?", Fr. Glenn points to the Cross, where God is present in love and sacrifices. Doubt is not the opposite of faith. Even Jesus experienced abandonment on...

Fr. Terence shares candidly about receiving both appreciation and complaint letters in the Church. While genuine feedback is always welcomed, a recent letter stirred something deeper in him — not because of the issue raised, but because of the spirit in which it was written. This experience led him to invite everyone to reflect on how we discern and challenge one another as a faith community. Do w...

The parable of the rich fool - Luke 12:16-21 Is faith still relevant in a world of modern technology and AI? Where is God’s place when resources are abundant and information readily available? Br. Celestine reflects that worldly wealth should not become idols. Pride and despair are the devil’s work. Prayer is an expression of our love and trust in God. We pray “that we may never grow so proud as t...

In today's homily, Fr. Vincent directs us to St John the Baptist who points us to Christ, the Lamb of God—gentle and sacrificial—who takes away the sins of the world. Fr. Vincent reminds us that God sent His Son not to condemn us, but to redeem us, offering hope, peace, and love. Life is filled with struggles—health, work, family, and studies—but God continues to love us as sinners and desires...

As we embark on this new year of 2026, we look towards the new year. We are optimistic and wish for a better year ahead, but is there such a thing as a better year? Instead of that, we ask - "will I become a better person this year?" or "someone freer, liberated, more trusting, joyful, more rooted in relationship with God and one another." A better year may not mean no setbacks...

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 be...

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 o...

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 G...

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 j...

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. Chri...

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...

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...

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 Blesse...

‘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...

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 conne...

Victor Franco who is a psychiatrist who witnessed tremendous suffering in Auschwitz who discovered that our greatest prison lies in our mind and so does our greatest liberation. The way we perceive our hardships can either be hopefully or hopelessly. Fr Eugene reflects that for those who have hope they can still feel joy and peace in the struggles as they feel God accompanying them, they are not a...

in today's homily, Fr. Antony Prabhu reflects on Pope Leo XIV's title for Mother Mary "Mary, the Synodal Woman, one who never walks alone but journeys with all people in faith." Drawing from Scripture and her quiet strength, from the Annunciation to the Wedding at Cana and Calvary, Mary shows herself to be a model of listening, bridge-building, and unity, guiding the Church to wa...