Church of the Risen Christ

Humble Beginnings

A letter from Sr. Mary Eileen recounts the founding and the early days of the Risen Christ Charismatic Prayer Group. This letter was written in 2002 for our prayer group's 25th anniversary celebrations.

Dear Friends of the Risen Christ Prayer Group,

As I reflect back 25 years ago, it seems to me God did, in a small way, what He had done with the Apostles. He took a handful of people, who didn't know a whole lot about what He wanted them to do, but were willing to do it anyway. Let me share with you a few thoughts about that time.

I had volunteered to Fr. Abriel to help in the parish in whatever way he could use me. I was fairly new in Singapore, having arrived here in 1977 after a Sabbatical which came after 21 years on the missions.

He asked me to help him prepare the families of the children who were going to be confirmed. It was there that I met Jean and Basil Branson. At the same time, I was invited to join the group at Lourdes parish, who were praying together before the Blessed Sacrament each week, for the strong renewal which had come to Singapore, in the form of the Catholic Charismatic Movement.

Persistence Pays

Then, out of the blue, I received a phone call from Charles Chua, whom I did not know, telling me how he had asked Fr. Abriel of Risen Christ if they could begin a Prayer Group in the parish, and twice had been refused. The third time he bravely asked again, and this time Fr. Abriel had said, “Well, alright, if Sr. Eileen leads it.”

Father had not spoken to me at all about it. I remember telling Charles I would only do it if he would look for the Giver and not only the gifts. I asked Charles to come over to Marymount and we would talk about it. That he did, and we began to think of who might join us in this group. He named the following which became the Core Group: Jean Branson, Anselm d’Souza, Jacob Ong, Mary Tay, Charles Chua himself, and me.

That First Prayer Meeting

We started out very small. We just passed the word around the first weeks telling friends that we were beginning the Prayer Group in the parish. There were twenty perhaps on the first night. A week later there were 30, then 50, and we became very encouraged. At our Core Group meetings we planned the Scriptural passage that would be developed and at the beginning, I did that. The musicians came together to practise so all would go smoothly. Soon, others joined us.

Each month, we would invite one of the priests to come for an Eucharistic Celebration, but our pastor, Fr. Abriel, never accepted the invitation. We were beginning to feel in the three or four months, as members increased to about 100 each meeting, that Fr. Abriel did not support. In fact, word came to us that he really didn’t “go for it”. This truly hurt and I told the Core Group that I would go alone and talk with him personally.

From Bystander to Staunch Supporter

Most people who knew me could testify that I am not an emotional person, but that day when I began talking with Fr. Abriel about the Prayer Group, the tears just flowed down my cheeks. I couldn’t stop them. Was it the gift of tears? I don’t know, but God used it mightily.

Fr. Abriel was so apologetic about the things that were said and told me he would come and apologise to the whole group. I told him I didn’t want that, I only wanted his support and hoped he would come sometimes for the monthly Mass. He told me he would come the following week. He did, and everyone in the group was so happy – though only the Core Group knew that I had talked with him.

Prophetic Words

Well, he confounded all of us by publicly announcing that when he said we could begin the Prayer Group in the parish, he thought that it would begin and fizzle out in a couple of weeks, then added, “ Now I know it truly is of the Lord.”

This was the breakthrough and that night was the beginning of great support from him.

As I think back to those early beginnings, he was prophetic in saying, “It truly was of the Lord”. Now, with the Group in its twenty-fifth year, who can doubt it?

As you know, many people make up a group and I would love to name all those who became a part of the early beginnings of the Risen Christ Prayer Group, those who worked in the Healing ministry, Music ministry, Worship and Evangelization ministries. It’s far too numerous to mention here, but the Lord knows them, and has blessed them through the years.

My thanks goes out to all those who worked in the roles of leadership, who went the extra mile, to help others know the Giver as well as the gifts. I congratulate you all and pray God’s choicest blessings on each one.

A grateful friend in the Lord,

Sr. Mary Eileen R.G.S