Society of St Vincent de Paul Singapore

[SSVP Reflection - June]

In the whole month of May almost all the Gospel readings have been taken from John’s Gospel. There is so much in the readings and we wouldn’t make much of it if we don’t go into deeper reflection. Let’s take just John 15: 12-17 to unpack .

In John 15: 12 Jesus says: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I loved you.” Note Jesus didn’t suggest it- He COMMANDS it. It’s a COMMAND and not a choice. We must love, not just when we feel like it. The command - To love is repeated at least 15 times in the New Testament because it doesn’t come naturally to all of us. The essence of His new commandment of love is a kind of selfless and self-giving love that overcomes selflessness, fear and pride. It’s a new way of loving and serving one another. That’s why on the night during supper He gave His disciples and us an example to follow. He commanded them to wash each other’s feet. Yes, it’s hard and requires God’s help. But, are we willing to do what Jesus tells us to do?

No worries. We can. Because God has already poured His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:5). It is for this reason that we are also to love one another. Let’s pray for the gift of loving others as God has loved us.

Next is John 15: 14 to unpack: “You are my friends”. Sounds great! But what does it mean when Jesus says “I call you friends”. It’s really a rare title. Only Abraham (Is 41:8, James 2:23) and Moses (Exodus 33:11) are called “friends of God” in the Old Testament. It signals they are entering a covenant friendship like Abraham’s God confides in him.

As “friends” we can have confidence to ask the Father.
As “friends” we can approach God in prayer as conversation, not just ritual.
As “friends” we share the Master’s purpose. That’s why Jesus says “I chose you … to bear fruit.
As friends we will receive revelation, not just affection. “Friends” means Jesus revealed everything the Father gave Him. As He says- “Everything I have learned from my Father I have made known to you”.

Know this through our baptism we move from being “servants” to “friends “ and even “Sons” in the Son to be a friend of God?

As Jesus has now reached out to us as His “friends”, He has established a new kind of relationship with us - a relationship which entails a personal, close, and loving relationship with a union of heart, mind and spirit with Him.

But again - What is our response? Do we allow Him to be part of our lives? Will we respond to His friendship with loyalty, respect and obedience? And
to come ?
to follow?
to belong?
to leave all?
to let go?
to be freed?

The invitation is there. It’s now up to each one of us to respond.

The next verse 16 to unpack and ponder is “I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that endures”. Note the order- “I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go, to bear fruit that last.”

There are 4 key words to unpack:
1. “Chosen”
2. “Appointed you”
3. “To Go”
4. “Bear Fruit that will last.”

The first word: “Chosen”. Being Chosen means being sent for a mission. What this implies is that every vocation: priesthood, religious life, marriage, lay mission is rooted in God’s prior call. Even the disciples’ calling was a divine initiative. It was His gift and election. He took the initiative. So for us our good works we didn’t volunteer, we are drafted by grace. Yes, we are all chosen before we choose. And why did He choose us? We are chosen for the mission. That we might bring forth fruit.

“Appointed you”. It means placed on purpose. This implies placement, authority and accountability. Our lives therefore are not an accident. Before we knew Him, He already set us apart. We are given a task as each one of us has received a gift. We are to use it as a good steward of God’s varied grace. We have a part in God’s plan. Yes, it’s the Lord who has placed each one of us where we are in our family, in our workplace, neighbourhoods to bear fruit. For all of us as Christians, it means each person has a particular role in the mystical body. No one is “unchosen” in the church. We have been sent forth!

“To Go”. To Go means to leave our comfort zones. To leave our small worlds behind. We are not called to sit in a holy huddle. But to go into our workplaces, our neighbourhoods and public space to open up to our brothers and sisters.

“ Bear fruit that will last”
“Fruit” in this passage identifies both interior holiness and apostolic works. And the word fruit ties to the Great Commission (Mt 28: 19) and the church’s mission. As to “fruit that last” refers to spiritual fruit and works of charity e.g. changed character, deep roots in the Word and disciples who make disciples.

Finally, the last part of John 15 verse 16 - “So that Father will give you whatever you ask Him in my name.” Don’t get it wrong. It doesn’t mean you get whatever you want just by adding in Jesus’ name. It isn’t a magic phrase. It’s about alignment. It means “If we ask anything according to His Will, He hears us.” It’s actually an invitation to pray with His heart, for His purposes, and trusting the Father knows. The bottom line is God gives only that He knows to be truly good for us.

Concluding prayer .
O God, fill me with hope, direction, motivation, and love. Send me in your name. I seek to do your will and with your grace I will bring peace where it is most needed. Amen.

SSVP Faith Formation & Development Team

Wishing you a blessed Vesak Day.

May this occasion bring moments of quiet reflection, inner peace, and a renewed spirit of compassion and kindness.

Wishing all our Muslim friends Selamat Hari Raya Haji.

May this festive season bring you and your loved ones peace, joy, and abundant blessings.✨

The Wednesday Lunch Ladle is on the move today!

Students from CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel have been a big part of the Wednesday lunches - befriending, serving and bringing joy to our Friends in Need every time they come down !

Today, our WLL friends were special guests to the school’s Founders Day celebrations! They thoroughly enjoyed the day’s programme!

Much thanks to the school and students for the wonderful day out!

[Walk with SSVP]

Who would you walk 5,000 steps for?

Walk with Caritas Family is back, and this year, we want you to proudly show who or what you’re walking for.

Write or doodle on your walkathon bib, and tell everyone the cause that’s close to your heart.

Whether you’re walking for children in need, lonely seniors or others, you’ll love the 4km route along scenic Sentosa – and our fun-filled carnival at the finish line.

Best part is, your participation fee will be a direct donation to SSVP Ltd and go towards our programmes for the low-income and marginalised. What's more, you'll also get free entry to Sentosa 🌟

Grab your family, friends and pets. All are welcome!

🗓️Sat, 29 Aug 2026, 8.00 - 11.00am
📍Palawan Green, Sentosa
👋Guest of Honour: Minister Ong Ye Kung

Sign up at https://www.giving.sg/donate/campaign/ssvp-walk-with-caritas-family-2026 today! 🚶

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul joins the spirit of this international week as part of the movement promoting sustainability, collective commitment and greater awareness of the impact of the environmental crisis on people living in situations of social vulnerability.

Faithful to its Vincentian charism, the SSVP reminds us that protecting the environment also means accompanying and defending those who suffer most from the consequences of poverty, conflict, displacement and exclusion.

Laudato Si’: caring for people and the planet - SSVP Global Laudato Si’ Week, celebrated from 17 to 24 May 2026 under the theme “From Hope

May 13: Our Lady of Fatima, a message of hope that remains alive - SSVP Global Today, May 13, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul joins in the celebration of

Behind every family is a mother whose love holds everything together.

This Mother’s Day, we celebrate the incredible mothers and mother figures in our community whose love and resilience inspire us every day. ❤️💐

Today, we celebrate your love, strength, sacrifice and unwavering care for your families and those around you.

Thank you for being a source of comfort, hope and compassion.

May you be blessed with joy, good health and love today and always.

Happy Mother’s Day 💖

[SSVP Reflection - May]

In the Gospel from John 14: 1-12 and in verse 14:9 Jesus said to Philip “have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me?” Philip was his disciple. Philip was a friend. And yet, Jesus looks straight into Philip’s eyes and asks, “still, Philip?” Still, you do not know me? After all this time? After all these years?

To understand Jesus' disappointment with Philip we need to look at what Philip said to Him, “Lord , show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus had to respond to him “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?”

Basically, Philip didn’t grasp His true nature. Jesus had revealed to His disciples in His teachings to them that He reveals God’s character. He embodies God’s nature, will, and love. He is the ultimate revelation of God and through Him they and we can understand the Father’s nature and love. In short, to understand Jesus is to understand the Father. See John 14: 9 -11.

Yes, Philip had missed this vital spiritual truth. What if Jesus looks straight into our eyes and asks us - “Still, you do not know me?” What will be our answer to Jesus’ question? This straight question, Jesus is asking us is if we really know Him? So what’s our truthful answer? Will we be surprised, confused if we are asked? Because after all we believe we all have read and studied the scripture and understood the teachings given to us at masses and at retreats.

But then, we may still fail to understand like Philip as we may fail to differentiate the two kinds of knowing. The first kind of knowing is head knowledge which we are very capable of doing. The other type of knowing is something deep, something rich, something incredibly intimate through experience or encounter. We cannot have this level of knowing unless we have the relationship and a profound relationship at that. Unfortunately, like it or not we all live in the first type of knowing world. And indeed we know a great deal of this type of knowing. On this type of knowing we are just at the level of familiarity with God. And at this level we are just having acquaintanceship with God which is easy and requires very little effort. Whereas, true knowing is a more difficult task of relationship.

Unfortunately, we often regard intimacy with God as a luxury item, one that we can afford if we have the time. We are somehow like the Pharisees, we can believe the Bible is true. We can read it, study it, memorise it. We can attend service and listen to podcasts. And yes with all that, it is still possible we can miss Jesus just like Philip. Yes, each of us lives a Pharisee and like them sometimes we’re frustrated with Jesus. If we don’t surrender to the Living Word, allowing Him to speak to us and in us and over us, then the written Word will be just lines in a page. If we are not entering union with God, the Scriptures will act as our judge, mirroring how badly we have missed God. The core truth is that Jesus wants our hearts not only our heads. He wants us to believe Him, really believe, when even all looks lost and hope is dwindling. He is asking for our trust, not just our mental assent. Repeat this again.

Yes, our God is inviting us to experience intimacy, not simply a relationship born of surface association. Yes, Jesus understands this spiritual truth is a process and Jesus is patient with our growth. In fact, knowing God intimately is the reason for our existence- “When you come looking for Me” God tells us, “You’ll find me” (Jer 29: 13). Indeed, intimacy with God invites a decision: full communion or nothing at all. It invites us to stay present with the One we love. Intimacy wants every part, every moment, no withholding.

One way which can help ourselves is we can invite Him to reveal Himself as Moses did on Exodus 33:18 “Show me your glory, I pray” As we do this, as we ask God for God to teach us the real Him, and He responds to this prayer with abundance as He says to Peter in Matthew 16: 17- “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.” God Himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am.

Finally, we should take note that the ultimate means by which we know and understand Jesus is not just by the scripture alone but also the Eucharist, for the Eucharist is Christ Himself, personally, and actively present.

To conclude, give consecrated time and space as well as our souls and read Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know Me.”
- Be still and know my love.
- Be still and know my heart.
- Be still and know intimate conversation.

End with Glory Be.

SSVP Faith Formation and Development Team