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SHINEOUT

DECEMBER 2011

jESUS yOUTH SINGAPORE NEWSLETTER

4L I V I N G 3CAMP

JESUS

ON

Forming Godly children would be my best gift to the world and the church and the best form of evangelization.

Once we have Christ in our Heart, cou rage is a default add-on.

SPIRITEDLY 2YOURS

A Missionary Movement at the Service of the Church

We have Jesus as our friend and our brother to lead the way, to comfort us.

Spiritedly yourS
r ev. Fr . William g oh
My dearly beloved brothers and sisters of jesus youth,

S piritual d ireCtor , J eSuS youth S ingapore

C oordinator , J eSuS youth S ingapore


Dear Friends in Christ,

Shimy Stephen

G
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on e a r e th e days w h en th e coolest campus hanGouts were the colleGe canteen, libr ary or auditorium.

prizes for GuessinG where we are head

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present is transcendinG from all appearance to its virtual to the coun-

physical t er pa rt.

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action is on social media and is limited

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in this season of Christmas, with the same message that the Angel of the Lord greeted the Shepherds at Bethlehem saying, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. (Lk 2:10-12) Furthermore, St Luke tells us that as a youth he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Lk 2:51-52) Christmas should have a special significance for jesus youth because your very name, jesus youth, suggests that He is present among you, and He is one of you. It is for you that He came! He came to give hope to the world. In a world that is darkened by sin, where people live aimless lives, the birth of Christ jesus, Our Lord and Saviour, brings hope to all of humanity. With His birth, we know that our God is not far from us. He is with us, present and alive as Head of the Church, His Body. He is in you! It is with such gratitude of this undeserving Gift of God Himself in jesus that I thank God for the gift of you all. you have been a great source of inspiration for me and for the Church in Singapore. Continued on page 22

ive like Jesus: be the incarnation of God in man amonG men. It is with great joy that I greet you once again, especially

believe in front of seek

or fa r

is not so cool! and we are

ampus life is the most cherished time in everyones life. By Gods grace I became a part of jesus youth movement during my college days. I attended a jy Initial Retreat due to the constant follow-up of few jy leaders in campus and that was a turning point in my life. After the retreat, I started attending jy prayer meetings in our campus regularly and slowly become more active in the group. I would like to share one incident that challenged me to be a true witness of jesus in my campus. During my initial days as a jy, I was very enthusiastic about working for the Lord. One of those weekends, carried away with my prayer meetings and other activities, I forgot all about a class test on Monday. I was unable to answer much on the test, but despite my friends prompting I refused to cheat either. Naturally, I did poorly on my test and scored low. Once the results were announced, one of my friends commented that it was my jy commitments that made me lose out on the test. That comment challenged me and I took a firm resolution as a jesus youth to glorify God in and through my studies. I set my priorities right and concentrated on studies just as much as ministry work. The Lord blessed me with success in my studies thereon and it was an inspiration for many other students. The moment I said yes to the Lord during my student life, there was a beautiful transformation in my life, with abundant blessings that continue to this day. Campus life is the perfect time that we can offer for the work of the Lord. I still remember the wonderful ways the Lord worked through our campus prayer group. Fasting lunch every first Fridays and giving that food to the beggars on the street was one among them. Majority of the members of jesus youth were attracted to this movement inspired by the witnessing life of jy leaders in their campus. This shows the need for a very active and vibrant ministry among campus students. Campus Ministry is one of the very active ministries of jesus youth Singapore. We have prayer groups in the Universities and Polytechnics which share the Good News to students in the campus. Let us pray and hope that we will be able to reach out to the students of all campuses in Singapore soon. May this Christmas season be a time to share about jesus - the one who is the reason for the season - to the people around us. Wishing you all a very Happy and joyful Christmas. God Bless! Shimy Stephen

lik e

from

away

open to uploadinG our life to are the

pr esent,

CAMP ON
welcome

u n k n o w n s. to our world.

Prayer For SingaPore


e praise and glorify you jesus for your wonderful ways and your powerful presence in our midst. May your continual grace cleanse and deliver this beautiful city of Singapore from sin, bondage and all evil designs. Holy Spirit, powerful counselor, sacred bond of the Father and the Son, descend into our hearts and establish in us your loving dominion. Grant each of us the gifts and charisms we need to build your Body, the Church. Through you, with you and in you, we pray that Singapore may soon become the Spiritual Powerhouse of South East Asia and that every young persons heart may be consumed by your love. Amen. Be with us Mary along the way, guide every step we take. Lead us to jesus, your loving Son. Come with us Mary, come.

Relegating virtual reality to the back burner, lets try a different perspective for which Camp is perhaps a good analogy which best summons my (our) portion of life at campus. The buzz, the excitement, the adventure and energy level of campus life runs quite parallel to most of the youth camps that I have attended in my parish. From day one to graduation day, its a roller coaster ride, the journey that not only forms our personality but also introduces us to the real world. I wish to highlight the three aspects that helped me sail through this sometimes tumultuous phase. Once we have Christ in our heart, courage is a default add-on. During campus days this C factor helps avoid the plague of fear, which grips many students. The fear of failure vanishes when we carry Him in our hearts and He gives us the boldness to speak when required. If for instance The Theory Of Relativity is hovering way beyond your grey matter, dare to clarify (with Christ gifted confidence) instead of timidly nodding at the explanation for fear of making a fool of yourself. Pretending to understand something that makes no sense is sure to make you senseless (no offence) in the bargain. This pro-active attitude has kept me in good stead all through my camp days and works well to date. During my camp days I had erected in my mind the twin towers of what will they say and what will they think. Thankfully good sense prevailed and they came crashing

Jesus Youth Singapore wishes you a Joyful christmas and a Blessed New Year 2012.

down long before 9/11. Peer pressure is one of the pressing problems of campus life and it goes a long way in stunting our potential in spiritual life as well as our social dynamics. It takes a principled person confident in the love of the Lord to hold aloft the signboard that says we give a dime about it. I still remember my first debate in college. It was the time that I had experienced Christ in a more personal way through jesus youth. Even in the midst of all the hooliganism rampant during stage performances, I could maintain my calm and hold my head high that I took the initiative. l pray that you all experience this peace that passeth understanding in your campus life as well. It was on campus that I learned one of my most cherished lessons- the secret to handling competition. There is only one magic formula for it - Share. I believe that if we are in the rat race, it should be with the intention to be Best and not First. Sharing your thoughts, scribbled notes, learning shortcuts or assignments, whatever you do for your friends touches

your life more profoundly than you may realize. When I look back at those crunch exam times when I had the opportunity to explain certain modules to friends, I know those have been blessed days. It always served a dual purpose, helping me sharpen my skills and more importantly, teaching the invaluable art of others first. When we selflessly assist others with no vested interest, we will surely see Gods invisible hand making our dreams come true. My fellow mates, as you camp around, I invite you - With Christ take courage, for courage leads to an invariable growth and share while you grow, as it is a trait of courageous people. May Gods wisdom enlighten us! Camp ON! SHIBU DEVASIA

Asst. Coordinator of Jesus Youth Singapore Software Engineer by Profession

l i v i n g

j e s u s

T
miTTed wife

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A: Initially I did find the balancing act between prayer and studies a little tough. But I refused to compromise on God and clinging on to Him actually helped me sail through my studies. My studies became a mission for the glory of God. 4. Can you tell us about the one incident on campus that drew you even closer to God. j: just before my final MBBS exam I was down with hepatitis and was unable to cover the portions that I was required to. At this juncture, a couple of my jesus youth brothers came to stay with me. They would read aloud and discuss the study material, which was a great help for me. And in spite of all the odds, I was able to pass the exam successfully. One of the questions asked was on hepatitis and having experienced it first- hand helped me answer it better than any studies could have done! I could clearly see the hand of God and His faithfulness during this hour of need in my life. 5. How did you discern your call to family life? j: I was at a point where I was wondering what to do next in life when one of my close friends decided to take priesthood as a vocation. It made me wonder for a while if I had the call as well. I prayed to God surrendering priesthood and marriage. During prayer and reflection I sensed that God was calling me to married life.

l i v i n g

j e s u s tumour was very aggressive and that it had spread to the intestine and blood vessels. But in Gods great love He stopped the tumour just before it completely compressed the intestine.

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quiet time with God. As far as the children are concerned, it is crucial to spent as much time as possible with them, and I spent that time with them in the evenings. Disciplining is normally reserved for problems like wilful disobedience or deliberate violation of what they know is already wrong. Persistence is vital because many times virtues like sharing, kindness and obedience do not come naturally to them and we may need to repeat the message many times before it registers. I am realizing more and more that forming Godly children would be my best gift to the world and the church and the best form of evangelization. 9. Both of you are very active in the Jesus Youth mission as elders. What is your inspiration to be active missionaries? j: Mission is not something which stands alone by itself. The fruitfulness of our mission flows out of a deep inner life and a strong relationship with jesus. My relationship with jesus is definitely the source, inspiration and drive for the mission. My mission work takes different forms like attending the service team meetings in the evenings after work or spending time with jy youngsters. As we go along I have the feeling there is much more God will ask of me. The Call I am responding to now is only a fraction of what is Gods actual plan for me. A: When we have a strong relationship with God, the inspiration to be obedient to Gods will comes from deep within, prompting us to bring more people into Gods kingdom and helping them grow in a Godly life. 10. Please share with us the hopes and dreams you nurture for your mission work in Singapore? j: Sharing what God has given us His love, His lessons in life with other young minds and jesus youth families around us is a great part of our mission. 11. Any message you would like to share with our readers? j: Spending time with God everyday is the single most important thing that you can do, and being faithful to His Will helps build your life in the Lord. This is how your life will be a blessed one and a blessing to many. A: Make the relationship with God your first priority and say yes to whatever He asks of you.

he

Singapore

JeSuS

YouTh

movemenT waS greaTlY bleSSed wiTh The arrival of

and familY in

dr. Julio dec-2008. TheSe comhave in The laST

caTholicS

Three YearS enriched The movemenT and Touched liveS wiTh Their deep, abiding faiTh.

But my thirst was still not quenched and I felt a deeper yearning for God. After few months I got a chance to attend a retreat and sensed the touch of the Lord while there. I felt water flowing into me when the priest laid his hands. I was filled with the Spirit of God and began to experience His real presence in my life. 2. Please share with us about your spiritual journey while on campus. j: After the retreat my friends took me to the weekly jesus youth prayer meeting on campus, and there I shared my testimony. Those were my first steps towards being a part of the jy fellowship. I began attending the meetings regularly, which turned out to be a steadying influence in the growth of my prayer life. I made friends with some staunch Christians whose friendship helped strengthen my spiritual life. A: Since I discovered that the relationship with God was so precious, I wanted to grow in that relationship and so I started associating with people who were part of prayer groups. I attended campus prayer meetings regularly and was earnest about my personal prayer. Many of my close friends who had personal God experiences would come together and share about these experiences and strengthen each other with inspiring insights. 3. How did you balance a hectic student life and spirituality while on campus? j: My commitment was to attend two weekly prayer meetings one was the regular prayer meeting and the other, the core group meeting. At one point I felt that the prayer meetings were taking up a lot of time and that I should not compromise on my studies since I was in the final year. So I stopped attending the meetings. A good friend of mine who realized that I was missing the meetings to make room for studies, started interceding for me for better sense to prevail. Soon I noticed that I was unable to focus on my studies and since I was not utilizing my time studying I thought I might as well resume the prayer meeting. In time God taught me to strike the ideal balance between prayer and studies.

dr. Julio,

animaTor of

JY inTernaTional Team iS bleSSed wiTh a

dr. a nJu who iS JuST aS STrong in The l ord, and Three wonderful children Johan, irene and daniel . ThiS couple for chriST ShareS wiTh ShineouT a liTTle abouT Their SpiriTual JourneY and ShedS lighT on whaT makeS Them a familY ThaT liveS

JeSuS

A: I clearly discerned that Gods plan for me was family life and there was no two ways about it but to follow the Will of God 6. Dr. Anju, could you share about the healing you received during your third pregnancy? A: At one point of time in 2004, whenever I opened the Bible I found that I was led to verses like He took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses (Mt 8:17). I also started coming across articles and testimonies about healings. It was like God was speaking to me on the topic of healing. At this time I conceived my third child Daniel. In the fourth month of my pregnancy a scan revealed a tumour in my stomach alongside the baby. Thanks to the Lords steady guidance over the last four months, I experienced a strong conviction that the Lord would heal me. But in spite of our fervent prayers and intercessory support from the jy family, the tumour continued to grow rapidly. At this point we attended a retreat led by Br. Fritz Mascarenhas, by which time I was in a state of extreme discomfort and breathlessness. We spoke to Br. Fritz about our situation and he asked us to claim and pray the words jesus, by your stripes I am healed. And I say to this growth to dry up receive a normal pregnancy, normal delivery and healthy fullterm baby. He asked us to take this prayer as a medicine, asking us to pray it over my tummy. During the retreat my health took a turn for the worse. But once the retreat ended and I was walking towards the car park I felt like a new person my belly was still bloated but the discomfort was gone. In a later scan we found that the tumour had stopped growing and had moved to one side. The pregnancy continued with the prayer that Br. Fritz taught us and Daniel was born normally in due time. After delivery, when the doctors operated on me, they found that the

1. Tell us about your first God experience Julio: My first God experience was during my 4th year at medical school. One of my close friends who had a strong encounter with the Lord invited me to join a retreat. Though initially uninterested, something about the pious attitude of the other retreatants moved me. So I decided to give God a chance, and it turned out to be life-changing for me. I experienced a very personal touch of the Lord and a deep infilling of the Holy Spirit. It was like waves of joy, peace and love of God flowing through me and I left the retreat a changed man. Anju: During my long break after graduation, one of my close friends who had a very faithful relationship with the Lord, visited me and shared in detail about jesus which instilled in me a thirst for jesus. During this time I chanced upon a book called Life In Abundance by Sadhu Sundar Singh which claimed you may be near Christ, but if you are not in Christ there is no meaning. These words made a deep impression on me and I realized that though I prayed I was not in Christ. As per the authors suggestion my longing prayer those days used to be jesus come into my heart. As an answer to this prayer one day when my mind was distressed jesus spoke to me questioning me on many things. At the end of that conversation I was a changed person, cleansed of all the weaknesses in my nature.

7. Dr. Anju, you are a qualified doctor and yet you chose to stay at home and look after the kids. What prompted you to take such a decision? A: After my medical degree, I wanted to be a paediatrician and I was working very hard towards it. That was the time I conceived johan, but entrance preparations continued in full momentum. During this time we got to read articles on the importance of mothers staying at home during the early years of a childs life. We felt that God was speaking to us asking me to prioritise motherhood over career. That was a tough call for me, but obeying God was inevitable. So even though I had a good rank in the entrance exam, God blessed me with the resolve to reject that coveted seat. When we moved to England I once again planned on doing MScp and getting into paediatrics. But though I cleared all my exams, when the time came for me to start my training in England, the Lord inspired me once again to say no to the temptation of career. It has been almost eleven years since I took that decision to give up career for home. I may not have fully grasped the significance of the decision at that time but now I am convinced that my place as wife and mother is at home building a small kingdom for Him. 8. Dr. Julio, how do you ensure your family grows spiritually? j: First and foremost, to ensure my family spirituality I myself need to have a good prayer life and a strong personal relationship with jesus. I believe that is the foundation of all spiritual growth in the family. As a husband I need to provide my wife with the space to grow spiritually. When the children were very young, Anju used to find it difficult to take time for personal prayer. So I used to look after the children at a certain time when she could have her own

R e T R e A T s

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A fresh anointing was awaiting the retreatants on Sunday. Hearts emptied of sin and every other block to grace, they were ready for a powerful outpouring of the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Empowered by the Spirit, they were transformed people unburdened by the petty worries and tensions they had brought along with them on Friday.

R e T R e A T s

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Days

them into Gods presence and a sense of his abundant love. Br. Renny Njarakkulam led a session on Gods love and stressed on the importance of filling the vacuum in every hearts with Gods love, in place of what the world has to offer. Experiencing jesus is the only surefire way to stay on track during the journey to Eternal Life.

he Chosen few heeded the Call to spent a delightful 48 hours with the Lord during Delight - an initial retreat for campus students happened on july 22nd - 24th. While youngsters all over Singapore were probably planning to chill-out their weekends at malls, discos and cinemas, fifty-two prayer warriors entered the gates of Choice Retreat Centre on the fourth weekend of july with dreams of a different kind that centered on the only one that truly mattered jesus! The ice-breaking activity set a tone of easy familiarity among the participants. The Mass that followed and the homily by Fr. Bineesh, the resource person, penetrated the hearts of participants and provoked them to think deeper. Father inspired them to examine their hearts for a personal Christ experience, by speaking of his own encounter with the Lord. The Praise and Worship which marked the beginning of the second days proceedings moved

Of
D
ELIGHT - The spiritual gift for campus' which was conducted on 22nd to 24th july has had a very positive influence on my life. The preaching sessions of the retreat were highly thought-provoking. It helped me take a peep into the darker corners of my life, to repent about a faulty past and forced me to mend my ways. Moreover the retreat has prompted me to take some firm resolutions which I really want to pursue till the end of my life. ALPHONSA MINU THOMAS

Delight
Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart [Psalms 37:4]
ELIGHT was not my first retreat experience. In fact, I used to attend yearly retreats only because my parents forced me to. This however, was the first time that I attended a retreat out of my own accord. God blessed my initiative by giving me a very personal and powerful experience of His love during this time. I was touched by the Word and I was so moved that I cried for the first time in my life over a wasteful life in the past. The Spirit empowered me with new resolve to make a fresh start which included a time of personal prayer, Bible reading and Rosary. Anju chechis testimony was moving and Br. Rennys talk on sin was insightful and made me alert about weak moments when I could fall. Thy word has truly become a lamp unto my life and a light unto my path Lord. And I pray that I can shine with this light till the end of my time. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless." (Phil 2:16) SUjITH FRANCIS

The unseen pillars that supported the Delight Retreat were the jy Campus Ministry who generated funds by car washing at Holy Trinity Church, Tampines, and the Intercession Ministry that organized 96- hour perpetual adoration that the youngsters might be spiritually nourished by the retreat.

Fr. Bineesh expounded on the topic of Sin and the natural human inclination to fall. With such great groundwork laid to examine their conscience, everyone had a meaningful and hopefully, life-changing confession. Br. Rennys moving session on Healing was followed by a talk about our dearest Mother and the day ended with the Holy Rosary.

thank God for having given me an opportunity to attend a retreat like DELIGHT. I had a great retreat experience but when the heart is full, words failand Im at a loss for words to express my joy. Prior to the DELIGHT experience, God was a distant presence in my life but now HE is my best friend. I have taken some strong decisions that will mark the course of my life hereon. My life has taken a positive new turn. Thank you jesus youth for DELIGHT retreat. NEVIN MENACHERy

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The Portuguese settlement with its Red Square, painted entirely in red, was eye-catchingly vibrant. Also in the vicinity is the Christ Church, constructed in the 18th century and a standing testimony to the grandeur of Dutch architecture. We next climbed over the St. Paul Hills to get a view of the St. Pauls Church. Originally built by the Portuguese as a church called Our Lady of the Hill, it was later turned by the Dutch into a burial ground for their noble dead and renamed St. Pauls Church. The body of St. Francis Xavier was interred here temporarily before being moved to Goa, India. Holy Mass was scheduled to be celebrated at 1 pm at the magnificent Church of St. Francis Xavier, which was built in 1849 to commemorate the Apostle of the East. It was a truly sanctifying experience for us and the most meaningful moments of our pilgrimage was the time we spent at Mass that day. The warm welcome by the parish priest to the group from Singapore and his pleasant chat with us adds to the good memories of the day.

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Lunch at the Malaccan Little India was a treat for our native palates. Window shopping at jonker Street followed by a visit to the Ship Museum, and it was time to head back to Singapore. The Holy Rosary marked the start of our journey back as well. Though tired everyone enthusiastically joined in the games that followed, in a most genial spirit. By the time we reached Singapore at 10 pm, the human body was washed out with fatigue but the spirit was aflame with missionary zeal that came from the land sanctified by the footsteps of St. Francis Xavier... Mission Accomplished!

ugust 9, 2011 dawned with the promise of being a beautiful, blessed day for the 100-strong jy family heading on a pilgrimage to Malacca. The redT army of jy Singapore boarded three coaches from East, West and Central Singapore (read Tampines, Boon Lay and Toa Payoh) at 6 am. The devotees in all three coaches began the trip on a prayerful note by claiming the blessings of Lord jesus and the powerful intercession of His Dear Mother. The Holy Rosary and the prayers that followed, set the right tone not only for us pilgrims, but turned out to be an inspiration even for one of the bus guides (see how the Spirit moves!). The normally winding long queues at both checkpoints were miraculously cleared on this day for us by our dear Lord and we had an uneventfully smooth journey across the border. And on a lighter note, the view of the landscape was spectacular, the Malaysian Ramly burger which most of us had for breakfast was yummy and the company of a family aflame with love for the Lord, inspiring to say the least. The tour guides provided us with a wealth of information about Historic Malacca. This small state which is located in the southern part of the Malayan Peninsula has been declared a heritage site by UNESCO.

GrAce

M Al AccA A Journey of

R e d e m p T i o n

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R e d e m p T i o n

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ball
Of a

The preliminary matches were followed by lunch which was a delicious spread comprising tapioca, bread and chicken curry, courtesy our sisters in the family and professionals ministry. After lunch it was time for some action from the ladies. The Captains Ball Tournament saw the ladies divided into two teams. Though the entire female contingent was in top form, it was the Army of Angels that one-upped Holy warriors to emerge victorious. The much awaited finals between Sparkling Feens and Rocking Romans lived up to crowd expectation as an adrenaline pumping finale to an action packed day. It was an ecstatic moment for the family and teens ministry when Sparking Feens lifted the first ever Redemption Cup Trophy with their winning penalty shoot out. David was the best player of the day and Milana was the best lady player of captains ball. jy elders presented trophies to the winners.

time

The first game played out between Lumina in white and Rocking Romans in black was an almost evenly contested match, but finally Rocking Romans emerged victorious. An equally thrilling second match between Campus Corinthians in red and Sparkling Feens in blue ended with victory for the latter. This match also saw some interesting action beside the obvious. Campus Ministry was at their creative best as they distributed refreshments - spicy salted lassi and bananas - pasted with their team motto from 1 Cor 10:13 so whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

rovidence was on the side of jesus youth Singapore in the form of perfect weather conditions, on the day of Redemption Cup Soccer Tournament which happened on September 18th 2011. It was a great day for outdoor activity and the radiant sunshine reflected the radiance of the teams (various ministries) gathered at Changkat Primary School, Simei. The very eagerly anticipated soccer match did not disappoint anyone on the excitement quotient. The competing teams took on interesting names like Campus Corinthians (campus ministry), Rocking Romans (professionals ministry), Lumina (working ministry) and Sparkling Feens (family and teens ministry).

ctober, the month dedicated globally to the Holy Rosary, was a special time for jy Singapore. Mother Mary was honoured and Marian devotion renewed throughout the month through the Rosarium Fiesta. The main aim of this celebration was to promote daily Rosary among Catholics, spread the message about Marys exalted position in the Catholic Church, promote Marian intercession for the salvation of souls and to intercede for Singapore. The opening ceremony coincided with the jesus Net fellowship on 1st October at Church of Risen Christ, Toa Payoh. Mr. A V Pious, the first animator of jy Singapore, did a beautiful sharing on Mother Mary. A quiz based on Mamma with emphasis on Her various apparitions was of great interest to the gathering.

rosarium fiesta

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48-Hour Adoration

Rosary Walks

Statue Visit: The statue of Mother Mary was venerated at jesus youth members homes throughout the month. Rosary Walks: Rosary walks were initiated through various campuses, hospitals and dormitories in Singapore. The Campus Ministry undertook a special initiative called CamRosa which was a rosary walk through thirty-one campuses in as many days, interceding for that particular campus while praying the Rosary. 48-Hour Adoration: Under the auspices of the Intercession Ministry, a 48- hour Eucharistic Adoration was initiated from 14th - 16th October at the CAyC Chapel, Hougang. The emphasis was on praying for the various jy events planned for the month of October and interceding for Singapore. The final days Rosarium Fiesta celebration at Choice Retreat Centre was a tribute befitting the Queen of the Rosary. As always, the Music Ministrys praise and worship was Spirit-inspired. Mass was celebrated by Marian devotee Fr. Paul Staes from the CICM Congregation, who never fails to profess his fervent love for Mother Mary in any gathering. Father had the full attention of the congregation with his interactive homily that came in spates of good humour. The candle-lit procession was truly a moving experience. The beauty of some fifty lit candles in the twilight coupled with the reverential recitation of the rosary gave the Choice premises a quality of unrivalled prayerfulness. The final benediction was an apt conclusion to the month long celebration.

Chain Fasting The Living Beads Rosary Cells


Statue Visit

The various undertakings that made the month of October a true Rosarium Fiesta were: Rosary Cells: As is customary every year, rosary cells comprising 3-5 members were formed with the intention of encouraging each other not to miss praying the rosary. Members would pray the rosary same time every day wherever they were and sometimes even over the phone. Chain Fasting: This was another meaningful initiative that saw jys taking turns fasting at least a meal in an unbroken chain that lasted a month, with specific prayer intentions every day. The Living Beads: Touching testimonies were shared daily through e-mail, Facebook and jesus youth website witnessing miracles through Mamma Marys intercession, especially by the Power of the Holy Rosary.

To Jesus Through Mary

Family

atmosphere was positively charged with smiling faces, shared pleasantries and a truly Christian bond of brotherhood. The retreatants enthusiasm was reflected on the resource persons- Elvis and Priya Kottooran- who had come a long way off from Kerala bearing the love and light of Christ on their face and in their demeanour. No less graceful of countenance or attitude were Alice and Rony representatives of the Angels Army who had also come from Kerala to take charge of the twenty-five strong army of angels in Singapore. Registration, room allocation and dinner were followed by the first session. Elvis earnest voice and profound message had a reviving effect on the faithful gathered, who probably were in various stages of exhaustion after a hard days labour. He reminded the gathering that this end-of-age era that they inhabit called for the virtues of perseverance and the ability to suffer

Retreat

R e T R e A T s as the need of the hour. He reminded the listeners that Satan was attacking families to uproot the power of the Church. Day one closed on a sombre note with the realisation that grace and love were losing their rightful place in a selfish and sinful world. Homework for the night was to gaze into the spouses eyes for a full ten minutes, reading the expression in it Wonder how many couples discovered they were illiterate! Day two focussed on the need for grace in married life and its reflection on children. The power and possibilities of LOVE in the marital equation as well as in the parental role was reiterated. Elvis and Priya who have made a bold pro-life statement in their own life, dedicated quality time discussing the subject.

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R e T R e A T s Priyas inputs on her personal challenges and triumphs (in the Lord) in her role as wife and mother were very inspiring for the ladies. Alice also took some time off from the kids to share her testimony about her encounter with the Lord and the spiritual journey that ensued. On Sunday, Elvis concentrated on the subject of gender pre-determined roles and the all-essential guide to understanding what your spouse expects. Intermittently light-hearted and serious, he had the crowd in splits one moment and lost in soulsearching the next. No matter what the mood of the moment, he never once let anyone lose sight of the bigger picture, the focus was always Christ centric. Meanwhile, the children under the guidance of Alice and Rony, capably supported by a dedicated team of youngsters from the campus ministry, were being spiritually navigated through fun channels like stories, action songs and movies on the life history of saints. Escalating the beauty of the whole retreat experience was the Holy Mass in Malayalam on Saturday by Fr. Michael and in English on Sunday by the spiritual director for jesus youth Singapore, Fr. William Goh. Praise and Worship sessions were powerpacked and the action songs led by the music ministry enlivened the young and the not-so-young alike. Refreshed in spirit, mind and body, Christs army was poised to take on the world as ambassadors for Him, carrying in their hearts the words that left a lasting impression that they are spiritual beings with a body not physical being with a spirit and the need to live life befitting that dignity.

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hoice Retreat Centre was the destination of choice for the twenty-two jesus youth families who gathered for a deeper encounter with the Lord. On the 21st of October, by around 8 pm the retreat house was a bustling sea of activity. The heterogeneous mix of kids in all sizes, shapes and stages of activity would have led one to forgivably assume that the venue was a crche of some sort. Both the parents and children had gathered in answer to the loving invitation of their most loving Father. Thanks to all the intercessory prayers that had preceded the retreat, the hand of the Lord was obviously present in all proceedings. It was a testimony to the core teams ceaseless hard work that all processes were flawlessly falling in place. The

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cross. Before wrapping up for the day, the floor was open for questions related to faith, which turned out to be very enlightening. The next day began with a time of praise and worship, where the music ministry shared about why praise God and how to worship Him. The speakers then led the group into a discussion about Gods love and the freedom we enjoy as His children. Fr. William Goh celebrated Holy Mass and emphasized in his sermon the need to be prepared for eternal life the evening sessions. CC joseph encouraged the group to pen down their confessions on paper. During the time of prayer that followed there was a fervent desire in each heart to surrender the listed sin and seek the Lords pardon. The prayer for healing by the laying of hands prepared the foundation for the Spirits work to follow. Music and praise marked the beginning

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t was an unfolding of Gods Plan, an answer to all prayers, a fulfillment of a dream. The fruit of the mission of reaching out to local Singaporean brethren to share the love of Christ was beginning to take shape. Nine Singaporeans, including two non-Catholics, gathered at Choice Retreat Centre for three days from 5th - 7th November to know, experience and share the love of God. Leaders of the jesus youth movement CC joseph and George Devassy, led the sessions and discussions.

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about the current social scenario, he initiated a discussion on the participants perspective and stand on current issues. The participants

To
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Many are invited, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22:14)
shared that the discussion helped them voice out opinions and take a stand on the underlying issues that they never spoke of openly. Following a lively time of outdoor fun and games, the audio-visual team presented a skit about the Lords mighty plans for every one which betters the petty plans people dream up. CC joseph introduced the love of Father God to the participants through two questions Who am I and Whose am I. With those thoughts in

had a great time at the retreat though I initially did not want to attend it, as it was a rush after my night shift. I decided to come because it had been a long time since I had met my friends and I missed their regular hugs. As part of the homily while celebrating mass on their first day, Fr. Julian spoke about greeting people (like saying good morning) with passion. As father was speaking, I realized that I had lost my passion for a long time now. I led an almost mechanical existence of studying and working, and I had lost the enthusiasm for life somewhere along the way. When I was in China, I could never have imagined that I would be working night shifts as a dealer in a casino (as I am doing now). All my colleagues at the casino work aimlessly, and are exhausted most of the time. But after this retreat I feel like a new person - my confidence has been restored and I feel rejuvenated. I realized during Fr. Julians sermon that attitude makes all the difference, and despite the obstacles, I am determined to make a positive change in my life. This retreat has indeed been a great blessing for me, as it has given me a new sense of purpose and direction in life, as also a greater sense of belonging.

of the final day as well. It was followed by an activity led by George where each one had to draw out their life maps. The participants keenly drew out major events in their life, which they would later present as testimonies. George then initiated the session on Holy Spirit, describing the Spirit as a person and listing out the Spirits nature. Fr. Kamelus, a missionary priest from Risen Christ Church who celebrated Holy Mass that day shared the need for each individual to be missionaries for Christ in Singapore. at all times, so that its not too late when the moment comes. After a sumptuous lunch, the AV team presented a hard hitting skit on how Satan is crouching at the doorstep ready to pounce and lead all to sin. George then led the group into a session about sin; how it came into the world and how to recognize it, based on the Ten Commandments. It was a merry moment indeed when one of the participants ventured to teach the group a couple of Singaporean games. The theme of sin and redemption through Christ continued in Fr. Kamelus also blessed each participant during the anointing prayer by the laying of hands, as the volunteers praised and thanked God. The AV team presented yet another engaging skit, this time on the theme of prayer. Refreshed by the Spirit, the participants then shared their testimonies as drawn in the life maps. It was uplifting to see the working of the Spirit in how certain participants were called very specially by God to attend this retreat and how an understanding of faith had blessed them with the reassurance of Gods amazing love. The retreat ended on a

jubilant note with power packed songs and sharing of peace with everyone. The participants left for home with a hope of continuing the journey of knowing, loving and serving God, rejoicing in His newfound presence in their lives.

The retreat started on a peppy note with action songs which the participants joined in with gusto. After a short introduction and welcome by the preachers, it was time for Holy Mass. Fr. julian, the chaplain for the Sri Lankan community, celebrated Mass and during the homily provided new depth to their understanding of the Holy Mass by explaining the significance of each aspect of the mass. In the post-lunch session George took the group on a tour around the world of today. Speaking

ejoice retreat gave me a chance to start anew. A good platform for anyone who is tired of life or exhausted, letting go of the past and making a new start.

mind, every one moved to the chapel to thank and praise the Lord before a beautifully laid out

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Illuminating The Spirit A


s a vast majority of the Indian community celebrated Diwali the festival of lights on 26th Oct 2011, a minor segment lit the lamp of love for Christ at Lumina. The Working Ministrys celebration of light was inaugurated with the lighting of the Lumina candle by Fr. Frederick Quek, asst. parish priest of St. Francis of Assisi Church. The theme of Lumina was based on the uplifting verse from Isaiah 60:11 which says, Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. Following a beautiful time of Praise and Worship with Br. Arun and the Music Ministry, it was time for Br. Elvis Kottooran to take over the proceedings for the day. The keynote of the mornings address underlined the urgency to Arise from sinfulness and Shine with the Light of jesus, which is His Word. Br. Elvis also spoke about the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist and the need to receive this Sacrament in a most worthy manner.

LUMINA
the
Fr. julian who has always been a tremendous support to the jesus youth movement, celebrated Holy Mass and delivered a powerful homily on achieving holiness in life. A blessed hour of Adoration led by Br. Elvis was an anointed time of prayer, introspection and renewal for the gathering. Br. Elvis testimony in the evening was perhaps just as inspiring as his message delivered in the morning. He shared how the Lord showered abundant blessings on his personal life, work and ministry once he had answered the call to seek first the Kingdom of God. jy Singapore co-ordinator, Shimy Stephen made a presentation on the various jy initiatives and Saijo delivered the vote of thanks.

egg

Thats all for today, signed off my lecturer in his usual manner. Makan Time. As usual I went to join the long queue in front of the Indian stall in the canteen. The story of the boiled egg had its origin at this point of time. A guy in front of the queue, in the course of juggling plate and money, dropped a boiled egg on the floor. Seemingly uninterested in the fallen egg, he moved on to better things like finding a place to sit. Therein unwittingly began a soccer match in the canteen, with the boiled egg being the ball and the students milling around it, accidental players. The conscious players who saw the egg were not interested in the game and the rest took part without even noticing the egg and the egg-ball rolled on each time someones foot touched it! I joined an anxious list of spectators waiting in the queue to find out when the egg would meet its ultimate destiny of getting smashed under someones shoe. While the saga of the rolling egg continued, my mind took a nostalgic detour to a not-so-distant past when egg was a not-so-interesting part of my diet. During my primary and secondary school days, there used to be a subtle lunch box war in the school where I studied, where the student with the fanciest lunch (read hardcore non-veg) emerging the classiest in the class. Simple fare comprising rice and egg and/ or pickle was deemed fever food the boring stuff that is force fed in times of sickness. Little wonder then that I looked down on the humble egg, in spite of its intrinsic health value. Coming back to the present, a glance ahead ensured there was hardly any hope for a change in fate for our protagonist- the egg. And so I indulged in the luxury of reminiscing some more. This time I revisited the school where I did my O levels. A far cry from the posh Englishmedium school where I had studied up until then, this aided school run by the Government catered to students from low-income families. At noon everyday I used to hear a resounding roar from the primary and secondary sections and the sound of hurrying feet. It was a while before I discovered that it was the pitiful sound of children in a tearing hurry to get their free mid-day meal. For most of the students, school was an exciting prospect as this free meal was probably their ONLy meal of the day. Their enthusiasm would know no bounds on certain special days, when in addition to the usual rice and single curry, they were provided with a boiled egg as an eggstra special treat. It was one of the most hard-hitting lessons of my life and Gods wisdom dawned on me during this time, crushing my arrogance and teaching me the value of food and the worth of human life. Fast forward to the canteen the soccer match continued unabated, and I was now at the head of the line. I bought my food and grabbing a clean tissue decided to accord the unfortunate egg a dignified burial that it deserved at least at this late stage. But alas! just as I reached the egg it was trampled underfoot by some campus Ronaldo to a state where the white was indistinguishable from the yellow. Its the fate of the egg, I thought to myself philosophically, as I proceeded to find a seat for myself.

After an initial message by Fr. Quek, the group sought the intercession of Mother Mary by meditating on the Luminous Mysteries and offering each mystery for a different intention. The ice breaking session was an interesting variation to the usual. Divided into groups, each group was provided with a copy of ShineOut newsletter and asked to identify those in the gathering whose picture appeared in the newsletter. It made for some fun interactions with everyone gazing into the others face, while skimming the pages of ShineOut.

Once lunch was done, it was time for a visual treat presented by jinesh and team. The well conceived skit was a remarkable commentary on the ills of modern life. Skilfully peppered with touches of humour, it was a thought provoking presentation.

Lumina ended on a sweet note with tea and snacks. And as the day was drawing to a close, the spirit of fun that emanated from the popping crackers in the vicinity reverberated in the mood of good cheer at Lumina.

AjU ABRAHAM SHAjU


Member of Jesus Youth Campus Ministry Engineering Student at NUS

i-Touch

The Word of God that Changed my Life -

Isaiah 54:10

Rejoy

hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

For the mountains may depart and the

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groups in the jy Campus Ministry. The daily Rosary and intercession on Friday is the energy source that nourishes and strengthens the RP Roses. NyP Petals was the first campus prayer group to reach out to the local students. It was truly a need of the hour to bring more local youth to the prayer culture as an opposing force to the permissive culture prevalent in society. john-17 of NUS and NTU Stars of NTU also plays a significant role in changing the Catholic face of Singapore youth. AEC Buds which bloomed two months back helps in spreading the fragrance of jy Campus Ministry island wide. The multi-national student gatherings in these campuses empower the vision of transforming Singapore into the Spiritual Powerhouse of SE Asia. Let us hope and pray that the beauty of the pearls, the fragrance of the roses, the softness of the petals, power of the Word, light of the stars, and freshness of the buds touch the hearts of more and more youth and lead to a Christ-centric culture in campuses in Singapore.

Its a Journey...

uring one of the initial meetings of the campus core team, the map of the Catholic Churches placed at St.Antonys Church caught the attention of the members. The young missionaries received an inspiration from Holy Spirit to start a pilgrimage to all Catholic Churches in Singapore, which was instumental in their decision to hold the monthly core team meetings at a different church every time. So every first Saturday of the month the members would meet at a different church to pray and discern about their ministry. The pilgrimage has so far covered 14 churches in 14 months. The schedule which includes Holy Mass, followed by Adoration, meeting with the Parish Priest, breakfast and team meeting has been almost a retreat experience for the team members. Prijo,one of the core team members, recalled the mysterious and powerful way in which God led their way to reach some of the Churches which were in remote areas. The pilgrimage and meetings were so fruitful that it paved the path for wonderful initiatives such as CamRosa, jingle Bird, Ivin, Karol, Delight Retreat and Feliz Navidad, to name a few.
MEEnu ISSAC

Its Prayer Time...

he grace of Mother Mary is reflected on every students face as they disperse to class after the daily campus rosary. The blessings these students receive as a result of Mother Marys powerful intercession are innumerable. Successful and timely completion of projects, outstanding exam results and immediate job placements they attribute to the power of the Holy Rosary that they recite in campus with fervour and love.

Its JY Campus...

In Singapore, the prayer warriors of Temasek Polytechnic go by the name of TP Pearls, Republic Polytechnic is named as RP Roses and Nanyang Polytechnic is NyP Petals. TP Pearls had their origin six years back with a Rosary Walk. It has since grown in spiritual momentum, thanks to the deep commitment of the 20-30 student members who meet for weekly prayers and daily Rosary. The Power of the Holy Spirit began to reign in Republic Polytechnic three years back through the RP Roses, one of the most powerfully growing

ALPHY V ZACHARIAS Our campus pilgrimage to the Catholic Churches in Singapore has indeed been a unique experience for me. Every month we were able to visit different churches and familiarize ourselves with its surroundings. In fact I would eagerly wait every month to know which church we would be visiting that month. We start our campus core team meeting with the Holy Mass at that Church and one hour with Jesus, followed by breakfast at a nearby food court and then a time of prayer and sharing at any nearby park. Personally, during the days when I was searching for a job, it had been this fellowship, prayer and encouragement that I got from my fellow campus core team members, that helped me to sustain in faith and patiently wait for Gods will to be done

I was brought up in a pious christian family that believed in Mother Mary, but never recited the rosary during family prayers. I started experiencing the love of Mother Mary personally during my campus days. I was attracted to the Jesus Youth campus prayer group called TP PEARLS who recited rosary every afternoon in the campus. I have seen my friends finishing their lunch in 5 minutes or even skipping lunch to make it on time for the rosary. I was attracted by their faith, conviction and determination in reciting the rosary faithfully and without fail. Blessings began to rain down from heaven when I joined in the campus rosary with my whole heart. My project turned out to be a success and all stumbling blocks with regard to studies falled beautifully in place after the rosary. Back home in India my sister was blessed with greater success in her studies and my mother received physical healing after I began the daily rosary. I have truly experienced the loving protection of Mother Mary ever since I turned to Her in faith.

n an age where temptations of the world are so strong for youngsters, it is truly heartening to see a segment of youth dedicated to the Word rather than the world. These young adults use their advantage of fewer responsibilities and more opportunities to build the Kingdom with unmatched enthusiasm. The vibrant campus ministry is perhaps Satans nightmare, for when youth are on fire their unbridled passion is hard to dampen and it is like a flame that passes on.

PRAMOD PRABHu The lunch time daily rosary in our RP campus, has brought many blessings to my life. Many of the problems which worry me during the early hours of the day are miraculously solved after the mid-day rosary. Once I was having great difficulty with one of the circuit connections during my class. However hard I tried, I was simply not able to get the right result. During lunch break , as usual I went for the daily rosary and offered this problem into the hands of Mother Mary asking for Her intercession. I came back to class and tried connecting the circuit again. The circuit which had not given me the correct output during earlier attempts, now produced the exact output. At the end of the day, I was one of the only two people in rhe class who had got the desired result.

ROSE MARY TOM Praise God for having given me the job that was my hearts desire. Though I longed for that particular job, I surrendered it to God, for His will to be done in my life, no matter what I desired. Blessings were showered from heaven, when JY friends from my prayer group, with whom I had shared about the job, together prayed for this intention. The most loving Father who knows the innermost desires of his children and wants for them to be happy, blessed me with that same job. This posting incidentally was the very last opening available and many of the other applicants were unable to get the job.

MILAnA CHACkO Soon after my final exams I went home to India on vacation for one month. During that time I got an interview call and was very worried if the company would be willing to wait for my return to Singapore. But they waited for two weeks. I attended the interview the day after I returned to Singapore, and to my surprise, on that very day I was offered the job following my first interview. In the course of praying and sharing with my campus prayer group I was strengthened with the verse from Jer 29: 11 which reveals Gods mighty promise for a prosperous future for the faithful.I had held on to those powerful words during the time that I was waiting for a job, knowing that I would be granted the best job for me in the fulness of His time. I thank God for unfolding His Magnificent Plan for my future.

PRIJO JOY Praise the Lord!! I am so thankful to my most loving Jesus for the gift of a good job in the very first interview I attended. Being my first interview, I was very tense. But the knowledge that my JY brothers and sisters were praying for me, gave me the courage to face the interviewer despite my fear. Thanks to the TP prayer meetings and the insights I got from there, I was able to pray for Gods will to be fulfilled in my life.Throughout the three selection phases of the interview, I experienced the strong guidance of the Holy Spirit in answering each question in the most appropriate manner. And soon after the interview, I was offered the job too. I truly believe that when we seek first the kingdom of God everything else will be added on... job included!

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WorlD youth Day

Teens gathering
Teens Ministry conducts their monthly gathering every fourth Sunday of the month at St.Antonys Church, Woodlands. This group of youngsters had made their presence vibrantly felt on Sports Day in conjunction with family ministry to take home the Redemption Cup soccer trophy.

Pearls Day Out


The TP Pearls organized a day out for the first year students at Pasir Ris Park on the 19th of june. The 25 students who made it for the outing had an enjoyable time playing games and bonding with their seniors and the core team members.

Professionals Gathering
The latest monthly professional gathering was held on 12th November 2011 at CANA Catholic Centre. Dr. Mathew George, elder of the professionals ministry, delivered the message for the day.

City DistriCt youth Games C


Dy conducted a Captains Ball Tournament on the 18th of june for youth across different parishes and ministries. jesus youth Singapore was represented by the teens and campus ministry going by the peppy team names of jy Ravens and jy Phoenix. The games were followed by a time of fellowship for all team members. The day ended on a high note with an inspiring Praise and Worship led by the jesus youth Music Ministry. s p i R i T e d l Y

ix jesus youth from Singapore participated in the World youth Day (WyD) 2011 at Madrid, Spain. The WyD combined with the jy pilgrimage that followed proved to be a lfe-changing experience for the participants. Despite the unrelenting heat of summer in Europe, the pilgrims had an unforgettable time. The sheer joy of being in the midst of thousands of Catholics from all over the world, powered with zeal for life in Christ, was unmatched in excitement. A powerful outpouring of the annointing of the Holy Spirit was a special blessing that many testified to. The pilgrimage through Avila, Fathima, Lourdes, Assisi, Rome and San Giovanni Rotondo helped the pilgrims deepen their faith by learning more about the heart of Christianity. The visit to the Catacombs of Rome which records the sufferings and hardships of the early christians in building the Church was as much an eye-opener as it was a movingly intense experience.

Feliz Navidad
St. Anthonys Church, Woodlands will be hosting a Christmas celebration for campus students Feliz Navidad - on Dec 26th. Commencing with Christmas delicacies, the event will be packed with flavoured by music, choreography and theatre performances.

Ang Mo Kio Prayer Group


Professionals ministry has a new chapter now which meets at Christ the King Church, Ang Mo Kio every Friday.

Teeens Retreats 2012


Retreat for the teens in Singapore will be conducted during the Chinese New year 2012 holidays at St. Anthonys Primary School, Bukit Batok. Two retreats - an initial retreat and a growth retreat for the teens will be conducted simultaneously.

PassOut
The Professionals Ministry organized an outing for their members on the 26th of june. yishun Neighbourhood Park which was the venue of the get-together was a site of great camaraderie with lively activities and enriching sharings.

YPC Confirmation Camp


A group of volunteers from TP Pearls prayer group helped out in logistics and intercession at yPC Confirmation Camp at CAyC, Hougang from 21-23 October. This programme helped them strengthen their bond with the local charismatic youth groups.
pROFessIONALs

CAMpUs

AEC Buds
Campus Ministry has a new prayer group sprouted at the AEC Campus, Bukit Merah; by two young participants of Delight retreat who were moved by the promptings of the Holy Spirit to meet on campus and pray. Reconstitution of TP and RP core team was also done, with Antus as the TP co-ordinator and Pramod as RP co-ordinator.

wORkINg

Events for Migrants


As part of the outreach to Migrant Workers in Singapore, ACMI initiated a dialogue with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) officials. The fifty-member team of MOM and ACMI officials visited the Working Ministry members on 13th September 2011. Ministry members shared with the officials an insiders view of the miserable plight of the workers and some of the sharings came as an eye opener for the officials. Working ministry members also participated actively in the World Day of Migrants celebrations organized by ACMI on 30th October 2011.

Y o u R s things of life and had no room to welcome jesus into their hearts. As the gospel keeps exhorting, So stay awake! Do not grow weary; do not grow proud, for the Lord is ever coming; not just at Christmas, but every day of our lives. Be watchful, for He comes in the poor, the hungry, the lonely, those who are marginalized and oppressed by society, and especially in our loved ones. For jesus is identified with every one of these. Indeed, there is no suffering that He has not endured; no pains in the human heart that He Himself has not felt; no desires that He does not know, particularly the desire to be in union with God and the hunger for love. As His representatives among men, it behooves each of you to live like jesus. Be the incarnation of God in man among men! Be the hope, the light of the world. Be jesus to the young people you meet each day. Let them see jesus shining in you. Let them discover you as the Gift of

Continuation from page 2

Professionals Eve
Professionals Ministry organized a talk for professionals on the 25th of October at Church of the Risen Christ, Toa Payoh. The twenty-five professionals who attended were enriched and enlightened by Br. Elvis Kottoorans in-depth insights on living Christ at the work place. He challenged the group to hold aloft catholic values in every life situation.

you have been zealous in keeping alive the spirit of Christmas, particularly among the youth in Singapore. Through your witnessing, your love and good works, God has become flesh once again. Through you, so many young people have come to know that jesus is alive and that He is our brother. The letter to Hebrews says, Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers (Heb 2:11). We need not journey alone in this world. We have jesus as our friend and our brother to lead the way, to comfort us and He is our mentor in every stage of our life, especially in our struggles as we grow from youth to adulthood. Consequently, as jesus youth, we do not want to fall into the same mistake as the townsfolk in Bethlehem, for they were asleep and they did not welcome jesus, or be like those who were so preoccupied with their affairs, the mundane

Christmas through your love and compassion and hospitality. May the Holy Spirit who dwells in us all, give you peace, love and joy and give you the courage to declare boldly that jesus is now born in your hearts and not just found in the crib! I wish you and all your loved ones, a Blessed and Holy Christmas. yours in Christ,
REV. FR. WILLIAM GOH

Spiritual Christmas Crib


Campus Ministry initiated an e-mail journey of making a Spiritual Christmas crib during the advent period. E-mails were sent daily with preparation materials like daily sacrifices, prayer which would inturn become the raw materials for the crib. With additional sacrifices, you could even get the materials of better quality.

Spiritual Director, Jesus Youth, Singapore

Campus - Tp pearls Day O uT

WOrking m inisTry - aCmi VisiT

prOfessiOnals pass O uT

WOrking m inisTry n ighT Vigil

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Night Vigil
Working ministry conducted their monthly Night Vigil on 12th November 2011 at Choice Retreat Centre from 10pm to 5am. The vigil which starts with a Malayalam Mass followed by a time of prayer, rosary, worship, intercession and fun-filled fellowship was attended by all the working ministry members.
HeALTHCARe

Dr. Anju julio further enriched the day with her message about giving first priority to God.
INTeRCessION

and for the intentions of Rosarium Fiesta, 48-hour adoration was conducted at CAyC (Catholic Archdiocesan youth Centre) Hougang.
MUsIC

Monthly Gathering
Nurses Ministry organizes a gathering once a month where members from different hospitals meet and pray together and discuss about future programmes. The last monthly gathering on 24th October was brightened by the presence of Mr. Elvis Kottooran who shared about the need for living the gospel daily in our present day world.

Onam celebration
Nurses Ministry organized an Onam celebration for all the healthcare ministry members at Mac Ritchie Reservoir Park on the 11th of September.

Intercession Ministry, being the backbone of the all the events initiated by various ministries, conducts the monthly intercession gathering on every third Fridays to intercede for the movement and the Catholic Church. The recent gathering was held on 16th December 2011 at Church of the Risen Christ, Toa Payoh. Intercession ministry also initiated special intercession for all the major jy events. 24-hour adoration was initiated by campus students for the participants of Delight retreat. Intercession ministry also conducted a 96-hour adoration during the Delight retreat in the chapel of Choice Retreat Centre. As an intercession for the then upcoming events of jesus youth Singapore, such as Rejoice, Lumina and Family Retreat

Music Ministry supported various jy events and other youth programs around the country. They played an irreplaceable part at jesusNet meetings, Rosarium Fiesta, Lumina, jy retreats like Delight, Family retreat and Rejoice. Music Ministry also supported various SACCRE events by leading inspiring praise & worship sessions for them.
FA M I LY

Family Gatherings
Family gathering was conducted on Sept 17th 2011, at Mac Ritchie Reservoir Park. Dr. julio and Dr. Anju lead the session on Parenting which was an enriching experience for all parents. At the same time kids had a fun time of games and fellowship with their elder brothers and sisters from the campus ministry.

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Printed and published by Mr. Shimy Stephen on behalf of jesus youth Singapore, BLK 449,#02-521, Sin Ming Ave, Singapore Ph: +65-96485801, Email: singapore@jesusyouth.org Web: www.singapore.jesusyouth.org, Printed by SR Graphics, Kottayam, Kerala, India Ph: +914812301142

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