Novena Preaching @ Novena Church

Br. Celestine tells of St Gerard Majella who inspired his vocation. This year we commemorate the 300th birth anniversary of St Gerard Majella. Saint Gerard was a Redemptorist lay brother known as a miracle worker with deep relationship with the Lord and also a patron for expectant mothers and childless couples. There was a legend of a lady with a difficult pregnancy who, with the help of his handk...

In this homily, Fr Vincent reflects on the recent 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu and the remarkable resilience of the Filipino people. Despite devastation, loss of lives, and homes destroyed, their faith in God remains unshakable. Fr Vincent reminds us that faith is not a feeling but a conviction: trusting in God even when we don't understand, surrendering control, and believing that with Go...

In September, the church commemorates two important events - the Season of Creation and the World Day for Migrants and Refugees The Redemptorist charism is to bring the good news to those who are most abandoned and these two groups are among the most abandoned in the world today. The first is God’s creation which we have used, abused and destroyed, and migrants and refugees are one of the most vul...

In this Jubilee Year 2025, Pope Leo XIV gives Mary a new title: the Jubilee Woman. From her "yes" at the Annunciation to her faith at Calvary, Mary embodies renewal and new beginnings. Fr. Antony Prabhu reminds us that Mary is showing us how we can live jubilee by listening more than speaking, welcoming more than judging, and starting again when life is broken. Each Novena Devotion becom...

We celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross tomorrow (14th September). At first, the cross looks like a sheer tragedy: Jesus nailed between thieves, mocked, abandoned, and dying in agony. His mother, Mother Mary, stood pale and shaken, just meters away from the cross. But there is something more - the Triumph of the Cross. The cross is life: from death comes new life in Christ. The cross...

Fr Paul recalls a homeless lady who danced with joy and gave thanks to our heavenly Father when she was given a meal and tiramisu. How often do we do that when we receive blessings? Similarly in this 75 years, our Novena Church has received plentiful blessings and we stand in solidarity with our mother to give thanks to our Lord as we reflect on the Magnificat and savour the words. ‘My soul procla...

As we celebrate 75 years of Novena Church, Fr. Charles Antony, invites us to remember God's abundant blessings, rejoice in His faithfulness, and renew our commitment to His mission. Novena Church, through the intercession of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, has become a refuge for all - welcoming people of every race, religion, and background as beloved children of God. Fr Charles reminds us that eve...

Mary our Mother - She is the mother to all of Jesus’ disciples The term Mother is in fact a symbol of unconditional love, intimacy, care, affection, and sacrificial love Fr Gerard reflects on three ways that Mary shows us unconditional love, care and how she nurtures us. With our reflection today of how Mary shows her motherly love for us, she is also showing us how to live our Christian mission b...

In this homily, Fr Glenn de Cruz reflects on the theme “Pastoral heritage of the Redemptorist, mission of hope from Mary to Jesus.” Drawing from Mary’s own journey of rejection, exile, widowhood, and the suffering of her Son, he reminds us that she understands the struggles of the marginalized and broken. Entrusted to us by Jesus as our Mother, she continues to intercede and offer hope for all gen...

Today’s theme is Remembering our blessing and God’s faithfulness: What is the significance of celebrating Singapore’s 60th year of Independence as well as Novena Church’s 75th anniversary? Those early days marked times of uncertainty and anxiety, and milestone anniversaries are days to remember and acknowledge that what we have received as a church and nation are blessings from God and how God has...

In today’s reflection, we draw from Matthew 28:19–20, where Jesus commands us to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” This call to mission is brought to life in a true story shared by Br Celestine of an 18-year-old girl who, after suffering abuse and slavery, found hope at Novena Church through a stranger’s simple invitation to pray to Mother Mary. Though not yet Catholic, she encountered love,...

What is Hope? A mental and emotional conviction? The mind and heart is one conviction that ultimate good will prevail over the many difficulties, problems or evil that surrounds life It is not just being positive. Hope rooted in something more than just our human self is God. It is sacred. Hope is founded in our relationship with God. Our Novena Church community can help each other sense the messa...

This week’s theme is ‘gratitude’, why it matters and how we can live it out. Gratitude is a spiritual virtue present across all faiths and cultures, often expressed through offerings or acts of thanksgiving. For Catholics, the Eucharist is our greatest act of thanksgiving. As Scripture reminds us, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Even in weakness and suffering, God remains present and active. A g...

Many families in Singapore are not happy families, there are quarrels and fighting which though can be normal, but can sometimes be excessive, continuous and hence the family is not a peaceful sanctuary. This sad reality can be seen in the recent unfathomable cases of parents killing their own young children. Some people do not know how to love themselves and some are perpetually angry and scold o...

In today's reflection from Matthew 19:16, we revisit the story of the rich young man who walked away sad because he could not part with his wealth to follow Jesus. This challenge reminds us of the cost of true discipleship: detachment, compassion, and wholehearted following. We are also invited to reflect on the loneliness found in modern society - the song "The Most Peculiar Man" by...

We are not able to run away from death; it is a reality that will happen to all of us sooner or later. The sacrament of the anointing of the sick is for healing and it is not the same as the commendation for the dying. The commendation prayer is a beautiful prayer with the litany of the saints employing all the saints to come and assist the dying person to really encounter God and go peacefully. I...

Fr. Antony Charles shares a moving image of a hesitant child at the seashore near the Velankanni Shrine (Tamil Nadu, India), finding courage only when her mother takes her hand. This reflects how we, too, find strength in the presence of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In moments of fear, loneliness, or struggle, Mary walks with us, just as she did with Elizabeth and the early disciples. At the cross,...

Let us reflect on Hope and Unity. In the current situation where we see division and fragmentation, wars, trade and tariff wars, or even conflict within ourselves, without the God factor in our lives, we can go into despair and despondency. Let us hold onto Hope as we acknowledge that we cannot control the situation, but with hope in God, things may be better- not just in the here-and-now, but in...

This Pentecost, we look at the message of St Paul, where he asked Timothy to fan into a flame of the gift God has given us. The spirit is like a flame that needs to be fanned by our good works. Once we begin to be judgmental, once we don't forgive, once we gossip to destroy the image and name of someone, once we claim to be self-righteous, the wind becomes weak. It becomes a light breeze. With...

Fr. Simon reflects on three struggles many of us face daily: frustration, anger, and the inability to listen. Drawing from real-life experiences and pastoral encounters, he invites us to confront the ego that says, “I am always right”—an attitude that blocks love, forgiveness, and true communication in our relationships. Fr. Simon reminds us that while we often pray for others to change, the deepe...

We all want to be popular, to be seen and to be liked. In this celebrity culture we live in, we desire applause and affirmation. But in the gospel today, John 15:18-19, Fr. Ino reflects on Jesus’ farewell discourse. In contrast to our current culture, Jesus spoke about not being popular, not being liked, not being affirmed but being hated, despised and disliked. Cardinal Tobin from the US as bulli...

The homily reflects on Jesus’ commandment to love one another. But love isn’t always easy. Relationships with family, friends, and colleagues can be difficult. We often blame others for our unhappiness, without realizing that we too play a part in the tension. We tend to view things only from our own perspective. Fr Vincent reminds us that whilst we are not called to like everyone, we are called t...

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 i...

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...

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...