When I stepped foot into the parish of Holy Family, Katong, never were there any thoughts of my presence being there forever. As the days became weeks, weeks into months and months into years, the thoughts changed to other matters that were far removed from staying or even leaving.
Life then just was about making a life in the parish and serving to the best of my abilities whatever that came my way in the ministry given to me. A large part of that was the presence of the Catechetical ministry that promised much potential in reaching out, teaching, serving and being with all the persons, young or old, man, woman or child that constitute this call to share God's love and live with all.
It would be a ministry that would take hold of my four-year tenure in the parish that also saw various ecletic mix of persons, other ministries and experiences which would form and mould my outlook about what the priesthood is all about. The Catechetical ministry certainly pulled no punches about what it had to offer: complacent parents, unruly children, troubled teens, unprepared catechists, you name it! Of course, there were also caring and competent catechists, cooperative parents and helpful teens and children that go a long way to make the life of teaching and sharing faith a joy to do.
Nonetheless, it is by the grace of God, that the work carries on despite these limitations and difficulties. This is not to say that we just depended on God with nothing to show for ourselves It is therefore the credit of the catechists that we have today, who continue to stick to their commitment to do their best in re-echoing God's Kingdom in the midst of all the usual trials and obstacles that we face each day.
Yes, we still have a long way to go before some semblance of professionalism and dignity be found to push and direct this catechetical ministry towards a future ahead that sees a community that knows and appreciate their faith and who God is in all its true manifestation. It is a future I am sure this ministry and all catechists in it would want to work for. It is also a vision that all catechists, deep down, will appreciate and want to do their utmost to make it a reality.
I may not have been able to assist you fully for such a reality to take place and am no longer privileged to be there to see it happen. Nonetheless, I am sure with the help of my replacement and with your continued conviction in this dream, this vision may just be around the corner.
I bid you all farewell and a big thank you for a great time spend there. For all my shortcomings, I ask for your forgiveness and for all good that arise from my work with you, praise the Lord! In everything, may the very love of God continue to speak through all your actions and work done in this challenging and yet rewarding and meaningful ministry that taps into the very lifeblood of evangelisation!
Keep up the good work!
"... whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4: 8-9
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