Faith Formation Stories

Joseph Calasanz was born in Spain on September 11, 1556, the youngest of eight children. Joseph’s parents were members of the nobility and devout Catholics who ensured that he was well educated and learned his catechism from a young age. When Joseph was about 14 years of age, he was sent to a school run by […]

Cardinal’s homily during the Commencement of School Year Mass struck me when he spoke about leaders teaching with their being. He referenced Moses and how he journeyed, suffered, and tolerated the people of Israel throughout their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Moses even offered himself to take punishment from God for the wrongful […]

“…listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts” (Psalm 95.8) These words are in fact from the responsorial psalm on 10 September 2023, the day our diocese celebrated Catholic Education Sunday. Whether we are a student or an educator, a parent or a parishioner, they remind us whose voice must ultimately matter to us: the […]

Those of you who are educators, don’t forget to feel for the weakest students. Educators, please, don’t just teach. You need to focus on our Lord. You need to acquire the heart of Jesus, the wisdom of Jesus.

What we believe is what we teach, and what we teach is how we live. Consistency. Integrity of life. It is very important that as educators, we form more young people to be people of integrity, believing in righteousness.

Beatitudes is a compound word, of the “Be Attitudes” – what are your attitudes in life? Your attitudes in life will determine how you respond to situations, how you look at life, and how you live your life positively, meaningfully.

St Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American saint. Following a petition by 906 Native Americans and two certified miracles, she was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980 and canonised by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.

Although he abided by his conscience and sacrificed an earthly fatherhood, Saint Thomas More’s courageous witness to God’s truth makes him a steadfast spiritual father for time immemorial.

A friend of St Ignatius of Loyola, and the founder of the Congregation of the Oratory, known as the Oratorians, St Philip is called the third Apostle of Rome after Sts Peter and Paul.

Being God, Jesus could have chosen to be raised by anyone, at any time in history – a king, a merchant, a doctor, a professor… but He chose a humble carpenter to be His foster father.

March is the Month of St Joseph, whose feast is celebrated on the 19th. As the protector of the Holy Family, he became a patron of the Universal Church, as proclaimed by Pope Pius IX on 8 December 1847.

Can a millionaire become a saint? Yes. God calls everyone to be a saint – it is probably more difficult for those who are attached to earthly things like wealth and prestige, but Katharine’s rich parents taught her to find her real treasure in the kingdom of Heaven.

Today’s feast celebrates the establishment of the Catholic (Universal) Church when Christ said to Simon Bar-Jonah: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

St Thomas Aquinas is known as the Angelic Doctor and the Universal Teacher. By his lifelong obedience to God, Aquinas shows the ultimate goal of all our studies and work – to give glory to God and assist in the salvation of souls.

St Angela Merici’s life is a testament to the good which can flourish when a single person assents to God’s calling, becoming a flame which lights other candles, causing a cascade of love throughout space and time.

Just as we prepare for the glorious joy of Easter with Lenten fasting and penance, so do we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ with the quiet contemplation of Advent.

You have most likely heard of St Thomas Aquinas, who wrote the Summa Theologiae. But do you know he was taught by St Albertus Magnus – Albert the Great?

For many who graduate from school, what endures beyond the grades and accolades is friendship. True friends help each other grow in virtue, knowledge and maturity.

This evening, the Infant Jesus Sisters invite everyone to join in the celebration of Holy Mass commemorating the 400th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Nicolas Barré.

In school, teachers often repeat learning points so that they will sink into our heads. As we study at home, we memorise and exercise knowledge through repetition. The same principle applies in the spiritual life.

There are too many attractions, distractions, temptations and different ways of living that can take us far away from God and living in God’s ways. But God is indeed near, and God will help us.

Mother Mary, the first disciple of Christ from the moment He was incarnated in her womb, is the pre-eminent example of compassion, the ability to suffer with another person.

“Who do you say I am?” is also a question we ask each other. I wonder what Jesus would say to you and me if we dare to ask Him the same question, “Jesus, who do you say I am?”

“Who do you say I am?” Jesus asks His disciples this question in today’s Gospel. Jesus asks us the same question in our prayer, when we are on retreat, in the best and worst times we have, and even when we act wisely or foolishly. I wonder what your answer and my answer will be.

The name of today’s feast comes from the Latin “assumptionem”, meaning to be taken up or received. Mary, as the Ark of the New Covenant, having borne the Word of God, the Lawgiver and the Bread of Life in her womb, is taken up to Heaven by God upon her death (Revelation 11:19).

Today is the Solemnity of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, when Jesus gave His three closest disciples a peek at His divinity, a confirmation of His identity as the Messiah. Universalis notes: “The true miracle of the Transfiguration is not the shining face or the white garments, but the fact that for the rest of the time Jesus hid His glory so well.”

Following a successful Catholic Education Conference 2021, we are proud to present a five-part series based on Archbishop William Goh’s address at the conference. In part 5, we contemplate how to build supportive school communities which provide meaning and comfort for students, especially in their times of trial.

Following a successful Catholic Education Conference 2021, we are proud to present a five-part series based on Archbishop William Goh’s address at the conference. In part 4, we focus on how Catholic schools can provide a space for encountering the Divine.

Turn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for strength and inspiration as we share love the infinite love of God in our schools.

Following a successful Catholic Education Conference 2021, we are proud to present a five-part series based on Archbishop William Goh’s address at the conference. In part 3, we reflect on parents’ expectations of a Catholic education for their children.

Following a successful Catholic Education Conference 2021, we are proud to present a five-part series based on Archbishop William Goh’s address at the conference. In part 2, we consider how our Catholic schools facilitate a relationship with God.

Following a successful Catholic Education Conference 2021, we are proud to present a five-part series based on Archbishop William Goh’s address at the conference. In part 1, we recall the legacy of our Catholic schools’ founders, the missionaries who sacrificed everything to answer God’s call to bring the Gospel to the ends of the Earth, serving our local community by providing quality education and human formation.

At the Catholic Education Conference 2021, Fr Adrian Danker SJ invited us to celebrate Catholic education, know the goodness of God, and share the good news that we are in God’s holy presence.

Here is the homily of his grace Archbishop William Goh at the Holy Mass commemorating the Commencement of the School Year, as well as the commissioning of 11 new principals.

Catholic Education Sunday 2020 was celebrated with a special livestream of mass this past Sunday, 13 September 2020. Listen to the homily by Rev Fr Adrian Danker SJ, Principal of St Joseph’s Institution:

By Bro Nicholas Seet, FSC Nicolas Leclerq was born in 1745 in the northern coast of France in Boulogne-sur-Mer Boulogne, a major port. His family was well-off and dealt in food and wines. He studied in the same school as his father which was managed by the La Salle Brothers. As a young boy, he […]

In our valiant efforts to impart knowledge to our students, have we been faithful in reflecting Christ’s love and compassion to them? As we celebrate Teacher’s Day in the Year of Mercy, let us ponder on the ways in which we can become merciful and life-giving educators. The Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, which began […]

St Monica was born to a Christian family in North Africa in 333 A.D. Married as a young girl to Patritius, a pagan who held an official position in Tagaste, her life was filled with disappointment and trial, for Patritius was a quarrelsome and demanding husband. Faced with daily tensions and difficulties in her unhappy […]

John Vianney was born in 1786 in Dardilly, France, one of Catholic farmers Matthieu and Marie Vianney’s six children. He grew up in the anticlerical ‘Reign of Terror’ during the French Revolution, marked by the infamous mass guillotine executions. Priests were on the run and celebrated Mass stealthily. Young John Vianney regarded these priests as […]

Martha was amongst the closest friends of Jesus, and was mentioned in the Gospels several times (Lk 10:38-42, Jn 11:1-53 and 12:1-9). In our first meeting with Martha, we hear her complain about her sister Mary for not helping her with the preparation of food to welcome Jesus. Next, we read about her sorrow over […]

The achievements of the Lasallian schools in Singapore today can be traced back to the efforts laid down by the Brothers of the Christian Schools. The Lasallian Brothers are a religious order first established by the 17th century French priest John Baptist de la Salle. Now widely regarded as a pioneer in modern education, St […]

  Saint John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyła on 18 May 1920, was the longest serving pope of the 20th century. Born in Wadowice, a small city not far from Krakow, the widely-travelled pope is well known for his teachings on Divine Mercy since his election to the papacy in 1978. Throughout his pontificate, the pope […]

  What does it mean to be a man? It is a question running through every boy’s mind in the course of their maturity, and one that defines their identity. It is also, one of the most difficult life questions to answer. Scripture shows us examples of the role of men in God’s plan of […]

Born in Roman Britain on 17 March 387AD, St Patrick is one of the world’s most popular saints. Despite being born in a Christian family, Patrick didn’t really believe in God. It was only after a turn of events that led him to seek out a relationship with the Lord. Let us look at the life […]

St Peter was an imperfect man, bestowed with a holy mission to be a shepherd of God’s people. How can educators be shepherds to those under their charge?   In Jewish oral tradition, as Jesus noted in the gospel of Matthew (23:2-3), the Chair of Moses is the symbol of the authority which the scribes […]

Here is Pope Francis’ address to representatives of the Catholic Schools Parents’ Association on 5 December 2015. Dear Brothers and Sisters, I am pleased to welcome you all, representatives on the Catholic Schools Parents’ Association, on the occasion of the 40 years of your foundation. You are here, not only to be confirmed in your […]

The following is from Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae, given this day, 16 October, in 1979. 69. Together with and in connection with the family, the school provides catechesis with possibilities that are not to be neglected. In the unfortunately decreasing number of countries in which it is possible to give education […]

Unprepared remarks of the Holy Father given at the Fr Félix Varela Cultural Center, Havana on the occasion of his visit to Cuba on 20 September 2015.   You are standing up and I am sitting. How rude! But you know why I am sitting; it is because I was taking notes on some of […]

Msgr Ambrose Vaz reaffirms Catholic educators of their important role and identity at this year’s Teacher’s Day Mass.   Nearly 200 Catholic educators, staff, family, and friends once again gathered to commemorate Teachers’ Day, at a specially organised Mass held on 12 September. Organised annually by the Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools (ACCS), the Eucharistic […]

By Msgr Ambrose Vaz   Dear teachers and friends, we come to celebrate this Mass today, not so much as to celebrate a day – Teacher’s Day – but more to celebrate a vocation – a call from God – to teach. The success of our mission, how we carry out our vocation, depends very […]

Why is the birthday of our Lady so special, and what can educators learn from this special event?   In a single liturgical year in the Catholic Church, there are feasts for nearly every aspect of Mary’s life; her Queenship, her Immaculate Heart, her Assumption, the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Immaculate Conception. And on 8 […]

How is it that the reflections and prayers of a man in a cave hundreds of years ago, continues to offer important and relevant lessons for educators today?   On 31 July each year, the Catholic Church commemorates the memorial of St Ignatius of Loyola, one of the most famous Saints of the Church. He […]

St Benedict was young, wealthy, and healthy at the time he decided to step back away from the world to pursue what he thought mattered most. Do parents and teachers value the same things today?   On 11 July, the Church commemorated the life of St Benedict of Nursia, one of the most well-known and […]

Given at Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador on the occasion of his visit to Ecuador on 7 July 2015.   My Brother Bishops, Father Rector, Distinguished Authorities, Dear Professors and Students, Dear Friends, I am very happy to be here with you this afternoon at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, which for almost sixty […]

Amidst the important, amazing, and inspiring acts of faith that Sts Peter and Paul have done in their lives, two simple aspects of these saints are in fact more than enough for educators to draw inspiration from.   Sts Peter and Paul are arguably two of the most important and well-known saints of the Catholic […]

The Archdiocese of Singapore has released the following statement on the viral “#CharlieCharlieChallenge”: “From time immemorial, people have always had an interest in or fascination for the spiritual realm, whether it be deities or demons. Human beings have a natural curiosity to know the future, to acquire special powers and knowledge, and many would take much […]

Given at Westminster Cathedral at Vespers on the occasion of his installation as inaugural Chancellor of St Mary’s University, Twickenham, on 27 May 2015   This is a wonderfully formal ceremony, rich in content and significance. Perhaps for the next few minutes I can be a little less formal and a little more personal. It […]

As we end the month Mary, let us reflect and remind ourselves again of the important lessons Our Lady teaches us by her example.   The special dedication of the month of May to the Blessed Virgin Mary has long been a tradition of the Catholic Church, where the faithful engage in more fervent and […]

At his General Audience yesterday, Pope Francis encouraged parents to not “exile themselves from the education of their children”, but to take responsibility of educating their children, in partnership with schools and teachers. Continuing his weekly catechesis on the family, the Holy Father focused on the importance of the education of children, “an essential characteristic […]

Pope Francis‬ canonised four ‪nuns‬ this past Sunday. One of them is Sister Marie Alphonsine Danil Ghattas‬, born in ‪Jerusalem‬ in 1847. St Ghattas opened girls’ schools, fought for female illiteracy, and co-founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Rosary, an order that boasts dozens of centres all over the Middle East today, operating […]

At the 2015 Catholic Education Conference, Archbishop Goh and Jesuit priest exhorted educators to point to the source of Catholic values and talk about the stories of their Religious founders. Catholic News reporter Mel Diamse-Lee sat in.   Archbishop William Goh challenged educators to speak of the source of values, Christ, to their students during […]

Four new principals of Catholic schools in Singapore were commissioned by Archbishop William Goh on Saturday, 24 January 2015, in a special commissioning mass organised by the Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools (ACCS). The new principals are Mr Wilbur Wong, Montfort Junior School; Mr Mark Gerard Minjoot, Montfort Secondary School, Mdm Soh Lai Leng, Catholic […]

By Archbishop William Goh   All three readings of this Sunday’s reading focuses on the call, a vocation in life. Every one of us is called to a particular purpose in life. In the first reading, we have Jonas who was called to preach to the Ninevites to repent and save them from disaster. In […]

Today in the Roman Martyrology, we commemorate St Vincent Pallotti, a Saint much less well-known than the likes of Francis of Assisi or Maria Goretti, but nevertheless has much to offer us for reflection. In his records the life of Vincent Pallotti, the great English priest and hagiographer Alban Butler makes it a point to […]

By Msgr Ambrose Vaz   My dear friends, the occasion of the feast of the holy cross indeed provides a very good backdrop for our celebration of teacher’s day. You know as teachers very often, you will use something as a kind of visual aid in order to bring out a message. And today when […]

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Some of you may have heard or read about the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Sexuality posted on the Health Promotion Board (HPB) website. I want to assure you that our non-public engagement of the opposing groups on this issue is by no means evidence of our flight […]

The following is an extract from the CMECS (Civics and Moral Education for Catholic Schools): Foundations for Sexuality Education Programme, created by the Family Life Society (FLS) in collaboration with ACCS.   The prevalent perspective on sexuality says “I am free to do what I want (with my body) provided I don’t hurt anyone” and […]

Dear Principals, Vice-Principals and Heads of Department in our Catholic Schools, Greetings for the New Year! My prayers and blessings on all of you as you begin a new academic year. On the occasion of the World Day for Peace on January 1st our Pope Benedict has dedicated his message to peace which he connects closely […]

As part of the Papal Visit to the UK in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI visited St Mary’s University in Twickenham. There, he met 3,500 school children and students to celebrate Catholic education at ‘The Big Assembly’ event. This was the speech the Holy Father gave to the students.   Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, […]

As part of the Papal Visit to the UK in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI visited St Mary’s University in Twickenham. There, in the first event of the day the Holy Father prayed with representatives of religious congregations, including those who have a charism for education and the history of education, in the University Chapel.   […]