Fr Philip Heng was the Novice Director of the Loyola Jesuit Novitiate in Singapore. Last April 1, he was installed as the new parish priest of St Ignatius Church. Here he wrote of his first weeks in his new mission.
Mr Cheong Cheng Guan assumed the post of Country Coordinator of the Jesuit Refugee Service Singapore last February 21. He brings in his skills and experiences in management and finances having been in the Banking and Finance Industry for 25 years. His first encounter with ]RS was during a mission trip to a refugee camp in Thailand. Since then he has been involved in various activities of ES Singapore including Information and Advocacy sub- committees, the subcommittees in support of IRS Thailand and Cambodia projects and organizing the World Refugee Day Masses.
Fr. Philip Heng (MAS) will assume the post of Parish Priest of the Church of St. Ignatius, King’s Road, Singapore. This appointment had been accepted by His Grace the Archbishop of Singapore, Nicholas Chia,upon the recommendation of Fr Larry Tan.
Fr Philip Heng will take over from Fr Leslie Raj, whose health is of major concern to us as he is suffering from a chronic stomach problem, which requires constant medical monitoring and attention. Please continue to pray for him.
The Japanese Province Novitiate will join the Malaysia-Singapore Novitiate programme for six weeks from September 29.
Effective November 1, 2007, Br Gerard Choo Thean Yoon was appointed by the Provincial to be the new Socius of Malaysia-Singapore Region.
Schol Richard Anthony (MAS) will be ordained a deacon on October 20, 2007 (Saturday), 10:00 a.m., at St. Augustine’s Church, Oakland, by Archbishop John R. Quinn.
Fr Paul Dass (MAS) has been assigned to the migrant and Bahasa ministries in the Melaka-Johor Diocese. He continues to be the Assistancy’s secretary for Social Apostolate, but the Conference is now actively looking for his substitute.
Sch Richard Anthony (MAS) will be ordained deacon on October 20, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Augustine ‘s Church, Oakland. The presider will be Archbishop John R. Quinn. Please keep him in your prayers as he prepares for the ordination.
Seven novices (5 East Timorese, 1 Singaporean, 1 Thai) will be going for their six-week Pastoral Experiment from November 7 to December 19. They will be working as garbage collectors (for a Garbage Collection company) and as migrant workers doing landscaping work (i.e. planting grass, trees etc.) Some will live with the poor in a small one-room flat, while most will live with other migrant workers in their dire poverty-stricken living conditions.
Fr Lawrence Andrew bid goodbye to the Treasurers’ Circle, grateful for the years of friendship in various circles and meetings. Fr Colin Tan takes on the new responsibility as Treasurer of the Malaysia-Singapore Region. He is very competent and will bring much laughter at the meetings. He will be a blessing to the Treasurers’ Circle.