Marriage, "a sign of closeness to God" in hyper-competitive Singapore
The archdiocese of the city-state has organised a series of meetings on the family and its problems in a society increasingly focused on productivity. The last meeting is set for 21 May. For one of the organisers, Christians are “called to be the alternative voice, the counter-culture.” Each year, 21,000 marriages take place; 7,000 end in divorce.
Singapore (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Archdiocesan Commission for the Family (ACF) organised a Family Partners’ Empowerment meeting at the Catholic Spirituality Centre on 16 April.
The event was a follow-up to an ACF networking session on 19 March aimed at synergising the Archdiocese’s outreach efforts towards families under stress in Singapore’s hyper-competitive society, where work and productivity trump everything.
One of the participants in the April meeting was Ramona Olsen. Speaking about her own experience, she noted, “a tendency to rely on our own strength and that is how we grow tired and weary, forgetting that God is in control and that He is always there for us.”
However, Christians have a special role to play. “We have all been called to be the alternative voice, the counter-culture,” said Ms Cyrine Gregory, Marriage Encounter co-ordinator. “We need to bring God’s healing love to hurting marriages and families.”
Fr Terence Pereira, episcopal vicar for the new evangelisation, led the 16 April meeting, which was attended by hundreds of couples and volunteers. In his address, he stressed the importance of the personal encounter with Christ as a real base to help families in need.
Even though Singapore has pro-family policies, and is considered to be the "best country" in which to become a mother in Asia, the city-state suffers from some weaknesses with respect to certain vulnerable groups, like senior citizens and people with special needs.
Fr Pereira focused on the fact that, increasingly, marriages end in divorce, noting that there are 21,000 marriages and 7,000 divorces each year, a ratio of one divorce for every three marriages.
Yet, citing the burning bush in Exodus, he explained that although the bush was burning, it was not burnt.
The series of events for ACF’s Family Partners will culminate with another meeting on May 21. Titled Love Matters, it will see some couples celebrate their wedding anniversary as some priests celebrate the anniversary of their ordination.
Singapore’s Catholics number more than 200,000, or about 5 per cent of the total population. Buddhism has the largest following with 33 per cent, followed by Christianity with 18 per cent, Islam with 15 per cent, and Taoism and Hinduism with 11 and 5 per cent respectively.
The local Church is going through a phase of growth and dynamism illustrated by the opening of a theological seminary, a real "milestone" for the local community.
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21/07/2005
