Novena Preaching @ Novena Church

From a mother who's dealing with tragedy in her family to an inmate on death row, we all face moments when we crash and lose our way. Some of us no longer want to go to church, others simply give up. Even those with great faith face moments when the human spirit goes into a paralysis, like a cat watching a truck approaching with bright lights. It's those moments that we have to look at the...

Fr Eugene reveals a conversation he had with his mother about his vocation, and how she wanted him to deal with the conflict and tensions he would face in the Redemptorist community. In his homily for the Vocation Sunday weekend, he started with how prophets, saints, Pope Francis to Mother Teresa all go through a stage of struggle like us when we try find the identity within ourselves. It's of...

What does it mean to be Easter people? The Novena Lenten community project in aid of the Redemptorists seminary and mission church in Sri Lanka received an overwhelming response, where 91 boxes are now en-route to those in need. Some of the donations truly came from the heart, such as 10 school bags filled with brand new stationaries and exercise books. Others were at the other end, with clothing...

God and mercy are synonymous. In light of the resurrection in which God's mercy is fulfilled, we have to first be mindful of our sinful state. If we want to truly repent, the repentance must move us to a desire to change. At Easter, God is inviting us to come on board with him, to look at the merciful love of God for sinners. He's withholding His just punishment on us and replace it with m...

For Mary and the apostles, the Holy Spirit came in the form of a gush of wind, with tongues of fire above them. The Holy Spirit is the giver of life. The gifts and fruits of the Spirit need to be exercised and activated in our lives. Only we can do it with our free will. Once our prayers are answered, that's our own Pentecost -- our own personal blessings. When we receive the Holy Spirit, it n...

Jesus' resurrection signifies a truth and reality that all of us will one day rise from the dead. His resurrection is a prelude to what's to come for the rest of us -- a prelude to our own resurrection into a transformed life. The physical resurrection of Jesus happened only once, but the impact in our lives is enacted over and over again. It's celebrated in the eucharist as a perpetua...

The mystery of the empty tomb draws us to the contrast between the "Tomb" experience" and "Galilee" experience. The Tomb experience refers to the moments in our lives where we experience problems and hardship, and we turn our back on Jesus and walk down a path drawn by distractions, vices and worldly pleasures. With the Galilee experience, we see Jesus waiting for us, wher...

Being human, nobody wants to suffer. Unfortunately, the cross is very much a part of Christianity. Taking up the cross is not optional; it is part of our journey. Even Jesus, who's human and divine, didn't want the cross -- but almost immediately, he said, not my will but your will be done. As much as we don't want to carry the cross, the cross is part of life. Even for Mary, who was a...

Every time we gather for the Eucharist, or even visit the Blessed Sacrament, we are reminded of God's immense love for each of us. As we approach the Eucharist, we bring that hunger and longing for someone who can wipe our tears away, heal our sickness, comfort us in our brokenness. As the living bread, He gives us life and hope. This Lent, let us bring God's love to others through our act...

The week's theme is on the Washing of Feet on Holy Thursday. At that moment, Jesus shows his humility and servanthood. He shows us he practices what he preaches. The question is, how can we serve others? As his followers, we are called to emulate him by serving one another with lowliness of hearts and minds and build each other up with humility and love. In the mall or office, how often do we...

This week, we focus on what the Palm Fronds and Colt represent. The palms that we use on Palm Sunday is a symbol of victory, to remind us to be devoted to Jesus, who has claimed victory for all our trials. The palm, through the storms in our lives, is supposed to encourage us, to make us hopeful in times of sadness. Meanwhile, the colt, a young horse, was what Jesus rode on as he entered Jerusalem...

Colours bring with them a lot of symbolic meaning. The colour purple, once a symbol of royalty, has changed with Jesus when the Roman soldiers put a purple cloak on him, along with a crown of thorns to mock him. For us, the colour purple has become a celebration of the kingship of Jesus, one that's not associated with power and dominance but an exhibition of love, mercy, forgiveness, sacrifice...

With Ash Wednesday soon approaching, we look to what ashes symbolize in the Christian tradition -- repentance. While we may not like to think too much about it, ashes on our foreheads also remind us about our mortality. However, we also look to how Jesus conquered death. His resurrection made all things new. Death becomes life. It's not the end, but the beginning. -Novena Devotion 'LIVE&#3...

What does it mean to really believe in Jesus? It's to seek the word of God, which is there to process with us the need to change, to correct our faults, failings and sinfulness. It's a life-long process. But if we enable it, it will do wonders, like it did for Mary and the Apostles. The word of God points us to the person of Jesus -- God in flesh and blood. It's to sense his presence,...

Mary is a Revelation of God's Motherly Love God's love for us is supreme perfection with all the qualities of human love. In Mary, he reveals his love in a living person, making her a wonderful and touching revelation of his tender and motherly love for us. In his last gift to us on Mount Calvary, Jesus said, "Behold, your mother; behold, your son." Jesus doesn't entrust Moth...

The synodality logo has a large, majestic tree, (orange color) full of wisdom and light, and reaches for the sky. On top of this tree is the Eucharist in the form of a circle, which shines like the sun. When we superimposed the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help onto the circle, the Eucharistic Lord turns into a child in the arms of our Blessed Mother. Mother Mary is walking with all of us. -Nov...

In a year when there are wars and an ongoing pandemic, some are still able to find joy and hope amid the tribulations. Gratitude is a virtue, like that one leper who came back to thank Jesus after being healed. Looking at the Holy Family, their lives weren't smooth and perfect, yet they persevered to obey the word of God, binding together when problems arise. Like them, we need to see life thr...

Birth of Jesus - Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you. -Novena Devotion 'LIVE' by Fr. Simon Tan, C.Ss. R. (23 December 2023)

Annunciation – Mary Jesus, Son of the Most High -Novena Devotion 'LIVE' by Fr. Gerard Louis, C.Ss. R. (16 December 2023)

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God! -Novena Devotion 'LIVE' by Fr. Glenn de Cruz, C.Ss. R. (9 December 2023)

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust! -Novena Devotion 'LIVE' by Fr. Vincent Low, C.Ss. R. (2 December 2023)

O Radiant Dawn, splendour of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death. -Novena Devotion 'LIVE' by Fr. Peter Wee, C.Ss. R. (25 November 2023)

O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom. -Novena Devotion 'LIVE' by Fr. Terence Wee, C.Ss. R. (18 November 2023)

O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay! -Novena Devotion 'LIVE' by Br. Albert Khoo, C.Ss. R. (11 November 2023)

O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power! -Novena Devotion 'LIVE' by Fr. Sikstus Bapa Atawolo, C.Ss. R. (4 November 2023)