Announcements 23rd – 24th Feb 2013, 2nd Sunday of Lent

1. Administration (Rosters and Special Events)

a. Special events roster for Mar has been published.

b. Group 3 servers will be serving the Novena service next Sat, 23rd Feb.

c. Group 4 servers will be serving the Stations of the Cross service next Fri, 1st Mar. Report to the sacristy by 645pm. It is not counted as a weekday mass and the service will be from 7pm to 730pm. Servers on duty are not to serve the Friday evening mass as the service is immediately after the mass. The group will provide their own sacristans to prepare the cross (with relic) and station lights and to lock up after the service.

2. Sharing

a. Sharing for servers secondary 1 and above resumes this Fri, 1st Mar at 830pm.

3. Group leaders and Exco Members

a. During the season of Lent, Lenten booklets are to be used by all groups during spiritual preparation before weekend masses. ICs to simplify where applicable.

4. Sacristans

a. With immediate effect, all sacristans for weddings, funerals and charismatic masses are to sms the names of the servers who served to Gabriel Yong.

b. Sacristans are reminded not to leave keys unattended or the silver boxes unlocked even if they are away for a short while. As security matters are to be taken seriously, sacristans would be penalised for such forms of carelessness.

5. Passion Play

a. Servers who would like to volunteer to participate in the passion play on Good Friday, 29th Mar at 8pm are to submit their names to Raphael Ng by Sun, 25th Feb. Any roles remaining will be filled in by any selected servers.

b. Rehearsals

i. Thu, 7th Mar (8pm-930pm)

ii. Thu, 14th Mar (8pm-930pm)

iii. Fri, 29th Mar (430pm onwards)

Sacristan Roster 2013

Roster for Spiritual Preparation 2013

Roster for Spiritual Preparation 2013

Dear servers,

Retreat this year will be from 3-5 June, in the Major Seminary and it will only be for servers sec 1 and above. A separate day of recollection for younger servers may be planned at the end of the year. This is due to feedback that sessions need to be catered to a narrower age range for them to be most effective.

Here is our plan as proposed to Fr Brian:

Phase 1 (4 weeks) - Discernment (Mid Feb to Mid Mar)

We will use the Friday evenings in lent to do a different type of sharing. We will welcome all servers secondary 1 and above to join us in a time of adoration, prayer, discernment and discussion regarding retreat topics and the needs of the society. Servers will also discern if they should be in the planning team as we do not one to appoint anyone prematurely when he has not prayed about it or pressure anyone to be in the planning team just because is he holding an appointment now.

Why we propose this is because we have a large population and I think we need to hear more from the rest when deciding what to plan instead of solely relying on the experiences of the older servers. All servers sec 1 and above would need to have some form of ownership over this retreat, and to feel that this is a society in which they belong to and would eventually lead.

We will require all servers to observe fast and abstinence for these Friday nights.

Phase 2 (2 weeks)- Selection of speakers (Mid Mar to end Mar)

We intend to firm up the broad topics by mid March and Shawn will assist the confirmed planning team with the selection of speakers and Retreat Master. Responses will be expected by end Mar latest and the times for the sessions confirmed. Other events in the timetable will be worked around the sessions.

Phase 3 (8 weeks)- Intercessions (mid Mar to mid May)

Normal Friday sharing will resume. However, we will allocate another weekday night each week just for the planning team to come down for retreat rosary/intercessions/gospel sharing (30 mins) and discernment/planning (30 mins). If we are inspired with any new ideas within the topics, we will inform the respective speakers.

By mid April, consent forms will be released and the final time table will be confirmed. Consent forms to be collected by end Apr.

The planning team members should be present for most of these sessions during the period. However, we will be more flexible with numbers during exam periods.

Phase 4 (2 weeks)- Confirmation (mid May to end May)

Food orders and admin/logistics list to be done by mid May.

Thank you!

A Message from Raphael Ng

Dear servers, current and retired,

I am pleased to inform you that our leaders have prayed about plans to initiate a structural change in the society over the next 2 years and the blueprint has been approved by both Fr. Brian and Fr. Bosco. Here are the points concerning the issue, in brief.

A new community, still unnamed, would be formed consisting of alumni members of both the Altar Servers and the Gift Bearers society. This community would be independent of the governance of both societies and aims to continually develop the spiritual growth of its members as they continue on their life journey as young adults. As it is the firm belief of both societies that community building and service to the Church should always be balanced, this new community would eventually assign all its members the post of Sacristan. In addition, members would be given the opportunity to serve the Altar Servers and Gift Bearers society in terms of mentoring and the planning of sessions that have more to do with spiritual development, community building, prayer and liturgy.

It is hoped that these would benefit all parties involved in various ways. For those in the servers, sacristan duties would eventually pass into the hands of the new community, allowing more time for its members to focus more on training, administration and other areas. Do note however, that this would take time and we expect the sacristan duties to be shared between the servers’ society and the new community during the initial phases.

Next, the new community is targeted at Servers and Gift Bearers above 18 years old. This is not to say that societies cannot have members older than 18, if they still feel the call to carry on serving. However, the appointment holders in the society would eventually be aged between 12 and 18 years old. Servers would be conferred apprenticeship to leadership posts at an earlier age, allowing them ample time to learn from their seniors, mature and serve their term. Hence, one’s term in office would neither be too brief nor too prolonged.

Thirdly, it is inevitable that we would eventually retire to make way for younger Servers and Gift Bearers. For those who have retired or are thinking of retirement and find that they are not called at this point to venture into a new ministry or community in the Parish, this new structure would provide an option for them to continue journeying together as young adults after their serving/gift bearing years. However, I would encourage all to pray about and discern their decision to join this new community. It is not a decision to be made out of mere sentimentality or a sheer sense of obligation.

Next, we will not exclude any non ex Servers and Gift Bearers who are willing to join this new community. However, we would make clear our expectations of the members in the community as stipulated by the constitution, which will eventually be drafted for approval.

Lastly, rest assured that the team involved in the building of this new community will still remain faithful to all their current duties as appointment holders as the new structure is established progressively. Along with our parish priests, we will do our best to ensure a transition which is as smooth as possible. Do let us know if you have any questions or feedback.

For the retired servers, Fr. Brian and I would like to encourage you to be part of our spiritual development efforts and join our servers on Friday evenings for our sharing sessions as well as to attend the Year of Faith talks with us, especially if you are considering if you should join this new community.

Do keep us in prayer.

Thank you and God Bless.

Raphael Ng
President
SFX Altar Servers’ Society

Announcements 17th – 18th Feb 2012, 1st Sunday of Lent

1.     Administration (Rosters and Special Events)

a.     Special events roster for Feb has been published.

b.     Group 2 servers will be serving the Novena service next Sat, 23^rd Feb.

c.     No evening mass and Stations of the Cross service this Fri, 22^nd Feb due to the Episcopal Ordination of Archbishop Elect Msgr William Goh. 

2.     Sharing

a.     No sharing this Fri, 22^nd Feb due to the Episcopal Ordination of Archbishop Elect Msgr William Goh. 

3.     Sacristans, Group leaders and Exco Members

a.     Rosters for Sacristans and Spiritual Preparation ICs have been published.  Sacristans, Group Leaders and Exco Members are required to abide by all guidelines and regulations with immediate effect.

b.     During the season of Lent, Lenten booklets are to be used by all groups during spiritual preparation before weekend masses.

Announcements 10th – 11th Feb 2012, 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time

1.     Administration (Rosters and Special Events)

a.     Special events roster for Feb has been published.

b.     Group 1 servers will be serving the Novena service next Sat, 17^th Feb.

c.     Group 2 servers will be serving the Stations of the Cross service next Fri, 16^th Feb.  Report to the sacristy by 645pm.  It is not counted as a weekday mass and the service will be from 7pm to 730pm.  Servers on duty are not to serve the Friday evening mass as the service is immediately after the mass.

2.     Chinese New Year

a.     Masses are as follows

                                               i.     Mon, 11^th Feb – Only one weekday mass at 830am.  No evening mass.

                                             ii.     Tue, 11^th Feb – Only one weekday mass at 830am.  No evening mass.

3.     Ash Wednesday

a.     Wed 12^th Feb – Rosters have been published.  Please check.  Masses are not counted as weekday mass.

b.     Servers who require a letter to their school principals requesting for time off due to them serving the Ash Wednesday morning mass are to exercise personal responsibility and inform the secretary, Andre Dumont latest by Sun, 10^th Feb.  Late requests will not be entertained.    

4.     Important administrative instructions for Exco Members and Group Leaders (High importance)

a.     There is a stack of instructions concerning Spiritual Preparation before masses for each Exco Member and Group Leader on the high table.  It is marked with each person’s name. There are 2 copies still not collected.  If your copy has not been taken please collect it immediately after mass.

b.     All instructions are to be adhered to with immediate effect.  Please contact Raphael Ng if unsure of any points made. 

Announcements 3rd – 4th Feb 2012, 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time

1.     Administration (Rosters and Special Events)

a.     Special events roster for Feb has been published.

b.     There will be no Novena service on next Sat, 9^th Feb.

2.     Chinese New Year

a.     Masses are as follows

                                               i.     Sat, 9^th Feb – Sunset mass is at 4pm.  No novena devotion.

                                             ii.     Sun, 10^th Feb – Normal weekend masses at 7am, 9am and 11am. Evening mass is at 4pm (Please disregard the announcement last week stating that there was no evening mass.)

                                            iii.     Mon, 11^th Feb – Only one weekday mass at 830am.  No evening mass.

                                            iv.     Tue, 11^th Feb – Only one weekday mass at 830am.  No evening mass.

3.     Ash Wednesday

a.     Wed 12^th Feb – Rosters have been published.  Please check.  Masses are not counted as weekday mass.

b.     Servers who require a letter to their school principals requesting for time off due to them serving the Ash Wednesday morning mass are to inform the secretary, Andre Dumont latest by Fri, 8^th Feb.  Late requests will not be entertained.

4.     Important administrative instructions for Exco Members and Group Leaders (High importance)

a.     There is a stack of instructions concerning Spiritual Preparation before masses for each Exco Member and Group Leader on the high table.  It is marked with each person’s name. There are 3 copies still not collected.  If your copy has not been taken please collect it immediately after mass.

b.     All instructions are to be adhered to with immediate effect.  Please contact Raphael Ng if unsure of any points made.

5.     Year of Faith

a.     Sharing for servers secondary 1 and above will resume this Fri, 8^th Feb at 830pm.

6.     Canteen

a.     The following servers are to submit their love offerings to the transparent box after debrief as the society needs to close its accounts for the canteen. (Treasurer to strike out names of servers who have submitted and follow up with the rest.) 

                                               i.     Carlos Limpo - $20

                                             ii.     Dennis Wee - $10

                                            iii.     Joel Leong - $50

                                            iv.     Joshua Wee - $50

                                              v.     Michael Yeo - $30