1. education
2. school

office for young people
MONTHLY BULLETIN
Issue 11 | April 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
Upcoming OYP Events
Features
I. Thanksgiving & Testimonies: TREASURE#3
I. Nox Gaudii 17th April 2015
II. OYP Family: Day of Recollection
II. Graduating Uni Students’ Recollection
15th to 16th May 2015
II. Volunteer Missionary Programme
III. School of Christian Leadership
29th May to 6th June 2015
IV. Get to Know Our Interns
III. Explore Our OYP Website
IV. Kickstart 6th June 2015
Read on for more information.
1
Welcome!
Hello friends,
Easter Joy be with you all!
As we move into the second quarter of the year, we give thanks to God for the fruitful
first three months of ministry and work. We are grateful that He surrounds us with
young people whose passion for the Lord and openness to grow remind us of our calling as youth workers in OYP.
A shout out to Josh Lim who is moving on after 3 months of internship with us. Thank
you Josh for giving your time to the Lord and sharing your gifts and talents with the
church. We also welcome on board Leonard Teo our new intern and Rachel Ann Kenyon and Stephanie Lee our fulltime volunteers. Dominic Nalpon has also joined us
for a short term of work. They will share more about themselves in the issues ahead.
Enjoy this issue’s bulletin and may the resurrected Lord be your joy and your strength!
In His Love,
Christina and the team at OYP
2
Issue 10: March 2015
OFFICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BULLETIN
Upcoming Events
Nox Gaudii: Living As An Apostle
17th April 2015
Come join us as we celebrate the Easter
season with a night of worship, testimonies, adoration and preaching. This
month, we have preaching by Fr
Terence Kesavan.
We look forward to seeing you and we
encourage you to bring a friend!
Please note that there is no registration
for this event.
Graduating Uni Students’ Recollection
15 May, Friday evening to 16 May, Saturday evening
This is a time for graduating students to take stock, give thanks and commit the
next phase of their faith journey to the Lord as they transit from university life into
the workplace.
Please mark your calendars and spread the word to any family or friends who are
graduating this year or have recently graduated from university.
3
Issue 11: April 2015
OFFICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BULLETIN
Upcoming Events
School of Christian Leadership
29th May to 6th June 2015
Our second School of Christian
Leadership will be held from 29th
May to 6th June 2015. This
school is for existing student
leaders studying in universities in
Singapore or any student who is
open to grow in ministry.
The objective is to provide student
leaders with a common faith and
learning experience in a commu
nity setting. There will be teachings, sharings, times of prayer and reflection,
ministry times, daily Eucharist, games and fellowship. It will conclude with Kickstart, the combined freshmen gathering on 6th June 2015.
Sign up at www.tinyurl.com/socl2015
Testimonies
The School of Christian Leadership reaffirmed
my identity in Christ, and grounded me in the
truth that I am a daughter of the Most High. It
was the beginning of a spiritual journey that
challenged me to be a courageous young
woman and to step forward towards God in
quiet trust that He would not leave me in even
in the darkest of times. I was encouraged by the
boldness of faith of my brothers and sisters as their shared their stories with
me, and I was edified by their desire to be holy. It was a humbling experience to witness brokenness transformed into beauty by Grace, and I was
privileged to share in those moments with them. I would like to urge you to
surrender this one week of your lives to allow His seed of love to be planted
in your hearts. I have grown much from the tiny spark that had been lit during the school, and it is my prayer that others will come to experience God
and be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to be set apart for their Master, so
that they can truly become Christian leaders that seek righteousness and live
their lives in reckless abandon for Him.
- Michelle Neo, SOCL 2014
4
Issue 11: April 2015
OFFICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BULLETIN
Upcoming Events
Kickstart
6th June 2015
This combined gathering aims to introduce freshmen to fellow Catholics on campus and is open to freshmen from all universities in SIngapore. We hope good
and meaningful connections can be made to help our Catholic freshmen have a
positive start to their university life.
Stay tuned for registration details!
5
Testimonies & Thanksgiving
TREASURE#3: 13th to 16th March 2015
Janice Toh (pictured in the middle)
I had a wonderful time at Treasure, my second retreat after a good many years. It
was a simple time away but I learnt many truths that touched and opened my heart
to receive God’s grace. I rediscovered His love as I was being invited to come into
His embrace as I am, and to fully rest in His presence. Since Treasure, it has been
simple steps like picking up “Prayer for Living” for my daily reflection. It started as an
effort to sustain what I had experienced but I slowly found myself going back to the
readings in my thoughts and as the days got busier, journaling so I would not forget
what I had reflected on. Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness and love, and for giving
me a renewed heart for You!
- Janice Toh
I first heard of Treasure through Nox Gaudii and decided to go for
it despite not knowing anyone. Treasure has helped me to grow
in faith and is a reminder that God loves me. I had always known,
but not really felt it. And Treasure has helped me to realize that
we are fearfully and wonderfully made, created in God’s image. I
am thankful to my facilitator who spoke these truths to me. I feel
renewed and hope to help the Church grow. I also thank God for
His many blessings and friends I made in this retreat. Praise the Lord!
- Alessandrya Pak (pictured, extreme right)
God’s message struck me at a moment when I least expected it.
During the praying-over session, I felt a gentle yet firm force coming
down on me and the message I got was “Go forth and witness: to
see and to share.” I believe it is an affirmation that He wants me to
proclaim and share about His creation with the world through
photography. This, I felt, was His love and mission for me.
- Benson Lim (pictured, third from right)
6
OYP Family: Day of Recollection
11th April 2015
- Henri Nouwen
“
“
Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where
the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy.
Hospitaltiy is not to change people, but to offer them space where
change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our
side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines.
from left to right: worship, fellowship during lunch, having fun during games
Indeed, this was the sentiment this past Saturday, as our OYP family members (which included
OYP communities and participants from our events) gathered together for a time of prayer,
reflection as well as a time of fellowship. It was a beautiful time to be grateful for all the Lord has
done in our lives as well as for the gift of each other.
We started out as strangers but we daresay that the Lord in His infinite love and grace, has truly
bonded us together as one family! So from the bottom of our hearts, we at OYP thank the Lord
for each and every one of you.
7
Volunteer Missionary Programme
Our young people in the OYP Volunteer Missionary Programme are raising funds for their outreach
initiative REACH (Reaching, Engaging and Anchoring his Children Home).
REACH aims to engage youth who want to know more about their faith and youth who are not
yet part of the faith. Our volunteer missionaries hope to reach out and invite these young people
to be connected with other young people of the Church.
On sale are worship and contemporary CDs, vintage and recent ones alike. They will be priced at
1 for $10 or 3 for $25. Contact us if you would like to purchase the albums and/or find out more
about being part of this Volunteer Missionary Programme!
8
Issue 11: April 2015
OFFICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BULLETIN
Explore Our Website
www.oyp.org.sg
Our awesome home page that features videos and links to our various social media
platforms
(left) For those who desire to learn more about our work
(right) The latest addition to our website. Our brand new video gallery
Another brand new addition to the website, previous issues of
our bulletin available for download
Feel like you could do with a little encouragement? Head over
to our Testimonies page.
9
Issue 11: April 2015
OFFICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BULLETIN
Get to Know Our Interns
Josh Lim, 22
Josh (pictured above) with the mural
he designed for our door
1. What are some of your highlights/joys working at OYP?
Being able to just be around such life-giving people that constantly give
their lives to their brothers and sisters in Christ. That and a constant source
of coffee home-brewed no less!
2. What has working at OYP taught you?
That doing the most mundane of things, though tedious and time-consuming, are as important as everything else that happens in the office.
3. Where are you headed next?
Another 3-month stint at CPF.
4. What’s your hope/prayer as you move on?
That I can see how much I am loved by those around me, and bring that
love to those who seek Him.
10
Issue 11: April 2015
OFFICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BULLETIN
OYP Fundraising Journal
Looking for a journal for yourself or as a gift? We are proud to promote our OYP journal which contains original artwork by our Catholic
young people.
Contact us at [email protected] if you are interested to buy
a copy or more. The journal costs $15 a copy. Your purchase will go
towards supporting our mission to our young people. Thank you!
Prayers and reflection guides at the back of the journal
11
Original artwork by Josh Lim
Issue 11: April 2015
OFFICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BULLETIN
Office for Young People
2 Lorong Low Koon, Singapore 536449
W www.oyp.org.sg
T
6285 2571 | 6286 0341
Facebook Page: Office for Young People
Instagram: #oyp.sg
For enquiries, please email us at: [email protected]
12