Celebrating75 years of Good Shepherd Presence in Singapore

75th Anniversary 1939-2014, celebration on the 12th December 2014.

75 years in Singapore and we have moved ever so fast. The tiny seed planted by our pioneers, Mother Liguori Bourke, Sr. Alphonsus Moody who arrived on the 12th December 1939 followed by Sr. Columba Cannon and Sr. Dympna Brady in January 1940 has grown into a spreading tree extending the Good Shepherd Mission of reconciliation and healing.

It was such a pleasure to have present, our sisters from Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Sri Lanka, Sr. Susan Chia from our General Leadership Team, the families of our sisters, our benefactors, the religious congregations of the Canossians, the Infant Jesus Sisters, the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood and friends, and especially our former girls of Marymount who still remain a large part of our lives and our mission here in Singapore. More than 200 hundred guests filled our new hall in Good Shepherd Place at Toa Payoh. The new chapel was too small to accommodate such a big crowd.

Former ladies of Marymount.

Our Sisters and our three aspirants. In front of Mary’s grotto.

Good Shepherd Place at 9 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh Singapore 319253

The main Celebrant at the Eucharist was Rev Fr. Cyril Lee, the grandson of Mr Paul Lee Kheng Guan. In 1939 when the sisters arrived in Singapore Mr. Paul Lee offered his bungalow as a convent for the sisters. While it was being renovated our pioneers stayed with the ever welcoming Infant Jesus sisters. Fr Cyril continues to minister to us every week for the past 17 years. The other assisting celebrants were Rev. Fr. John Sim and Rev. Fr. Kamus Kamil from the Risen Christ Parish, Rev. Fr. Antonia Gonzales of the Dominican Fathers and Rev. Fr. Peter Paul Chaplain to the Migrants from Myanmar who work in Singapore. The Eucharist was our prayer of thanksgiving to the God who cares, who has nurtured and watched over us during the past 75 years.

A big thank you to Ivy Tan and her team of ladies who decorated the hall so tastefully.

The 75th Anniversary cake, thanks to our Lay Associates.

In his homily Fr. Cyril looked back at our beginnings. For the pioneer sisters “there were successes and failures, disappointments and hopes, anxiety and relief, and in death threatening moments as well as life-saving moments, there was joy. Joy for which we are celebrating now. Joy in the remarkable testimony of faith and the power of prayers to God and his Blessed Mother down the years.”

Sr. Joan Lopez, our Province Leader in her speech thanked our pioneer sisters, the bishops and priests. “We recall our missionary sisters who laid the foundation, weathered all the storms and laid the paths for us to follow.” She spoke of her overwhelming feeling of gratitude, first to God who began this work and gave us the courage to carry it out, to our sisters and our lay partners for their faithfulness in developing the Good Shepherd mission. “We continue to walk in the spirit of St. Mary Euphrasia who believed in the dignity and worth of each person. May all those we meet experience the healing presence and compassionate love of God. We look to the future with confidence with hope. We remember the words of St. M. Euphrasia, ‘As mission partners, how great is your mission. You are part of the gift of life, its fruits should endure’… even beyond 75 years and more.”

We experienced a wonderful sense of love and friendship during the dinner. Our new home in Toa Payoh lends itself to an atmosphere of peace and homeliness. Our friends stayed long chatting and reminiscing about the past, recalling its precious memories, especially of our pioneer sisters and benefactors.

Memories:

Rt. Rev. Bishop A. Devals who invited the Good Shepherd Sisters to Singapore.

Bishop Devals and his Vicar met the Sisters and brought them to the Infant Jesus Sisters who housed them at the Convent in Victoria Street. We thank the Sisters for their kindness to us in the early days.

This bungalow, on 8th Mile Ponggol Road belonged to Mr. Paul Lee Kheng Guan. He kindly allowed the Sisters to use it as their first Convent.

Mr. Paul Lee Kheng Guan

Mr. Paul Lee Kheng Guan, Grandfather of Rev. Fr. Cyril Lee who was the main celebrant

Rev. Fr. Cyril Lee, Grandson of Mr Paul Lee who continues to celebrate the Eucharist with the Community every week for the last 17 years.

Mother Mary of St. Liguori Bourke and Sr. Alphonsus Moody arrived inSingapore on the 12th December 1939 followed by Sr. Columba Cannon and Sr. Dympna Brady in January 1940

Friends and benefactors at the blessing and ground-

breaking at the site of Marymount, 790 Thomson Rd. Present were the Infant Jesus Sisters, Little Sisters of the Poor, Canossians the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood and the Christian Brothers.

We thank God for our present home at Toa Payoh. It is restful and serene and we feel close to our children in Ahuva Good Shepherd. We are young again welcoming our Kindergarten Kids and their parents, We are blessed with the presence of many families living around us as together we celebrate the Eucharist each morning.

Appreciation:

The surprise of the evening was sprung on us by Sr. Cecilia Liew. She thanked all who had prepared for this beautiful event presenting each one with a lovely bouquet of flowers. It was a special moment for those of us who were very much involved in the early years of our beginnings.

Sr. Rose Poon, representing our Auxiliary sisters receiving her bouquet

The 75 days of prayer leading to the 12 December brought a most welcome surprise. All five of our local Province Leaders were present.

They too laid the foundation of a strong and enduring leadership in the Province of Malaysia-Singapore. Thank you Sisters.

Sr. Therese Thong

Sr. Helena Vythialingam Sr. Susan Chia

Sr. Dorothy Khaw

Sr. Cecilia Liew

With the Offertory gifts of bread and wine presented at the Mass were the Book of the Annals which were written from 12th December 1939, the arrival of our sisters in Singapore and the events that surrounded their lives. A flowering plant that we will nurture for the next coming years of Good Shepherd presence in Singapore. A candle, a symbol of the Light of Christ which must continue to shine in our lives guiding us to the future.

Truly St. Mary Euphrasia, our Foundress ended this beautiful day with her special words to us.

“May your heart be an altar, from which the bright flame of

unending thanksgiving ascends to heaven.”

Sr. M. Gerard Fernandez rgs December 2014