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However, looking back,
CSS has somehow laid that foundation of faith that I have today.
Apart from the weekly RCIY lessons that I had, the Friday masses,
rosaries and the cell group meetings that we had, increased my knowledge
of the Catholic Church and I grew closer to God. I knew God better.
I understood Him better. And I grew to love Him more and more each
day.
I was thankful to God
for putting me in CSS. Especially in concrete cold NUS, CSS provided
a place of friendships. If you do not have friends to eat lunch
with, you can be sure to find some people in the library corner.
CSS provided support. Whenever I was quite lost in my studies, I
can be sure that the seniors were there to guide me. And I think
most importantly, CSS provided God that chance to exist in campus.
Whenever I am so busy with my studies, CSS has made me realize that
God is everywhere and that we can rely on Him. All because we never
stopped putting Him in the centre of our lives.
So, today is the FOC
BBQ. I went there, sleepy and very lethargic. All I wanted to do
was to have a good shower and have a good sleep in my bed. As the
people streamed in, I began to make new friends. I talked to my
good friends. I drank the grape wine from Engine. I waited for Science
to cook my food (talk about free-ridership…) I distributed
corn, potatoes and sweet potatoes to every other pit. I was thirsty
and could not find water. And then I saw some people whom I have
not seen for a year…
On my trip back, I already
knew what to write for this article. I was and am still very happy
when I saw some people whom I had not seen for a long time. I saw
the freshies which reminded me of the time when I was just trying
to belong in CSS. I saw some people who endlessly gave their all
to CSS. And I saw people who are trying to give their all to CSS.
It is truly so amazing how God works. Through His grace and blessings,
He has created a group of people who are continuously building on
to the Body of Christ.
CSS has been that Body
of Christ for me to lean on when I needed some help, be it divine
or just schoolwork help. CSS has been that Body of Christ for me
to build on when I felt I had something to give and contribute.
CSS has been that Body of Christ where people fall out and yet,
other people try to bring them back. And CSS has been trying and
still trying to be that Body of Christ, supporting every committees
and ministries in CSS.
Truly, in the past 1 ½ years, I had made a few great friends.
There were misgivings, frustrations and upsets. But on the flip
side, there are joys, memorable events, corny moments (who can ever
forget Paul and Thaddeus's corny jokes), etc. Thus, in this sharing
cum reflection, I wish to end to really "commemorate"
some of these people who has made a difference in my life. These
people may or may not be in CSS, either because they had already
graduated or had just simply left CSS. And they are not ranked in
order of merit….so here goes….
Andy Gan (Engine) and
Sharon (Arts): I can never be so thankful to God for the two of
you. Without you, I would not be here, writing this article. CSS
has definitely provided the fertilizers for my faith to grow. Thank
you for always encouraging and inviting me to participate in CSS
activities. I pray that God will always bless the two of you happiness.
Big Mel aka Melanie (Arts):
MEL !!!!! )*Imagine me screeching MEEEELLL!!!* I miss you sooooo
much in CSS. I miss those bus rides home after Friday masses and
dinners. I miss those times where we would always chat and share
our thoughts and feelings. Thanks for chatting with me from 8 pm
to 1 am on the 13th of July 2001. Hee Hee.. we moved from NTUC ,
to Burger King and then to the hawker centre at my place. Quite
usual right? Anyway, I pray that God will always bless and keep
you !
My Programs Comm of FOC
2000/2001: You guys (my bunch of guys and only 2 gals) provided
me that support even though I was an ignorant Catholic. And thanks
for even explaining the meaning of "Prayers of the Faithful"
to me. Thanks for giving me that affirmation to be the best Programs
Head I can ever be. And thanks for those times I was super kan cheong
and you guys tried to lessen my kan cheongness. I still miss those
times when we had our 3 hour meetings…
Terence from CCPG: Remember
that talk we had during this year's FOC? I want to thank you for
taking time to listen even though I was quite a complain queen.
Thank you for telling me that I can also be a sower and not all
the time, a harvester.
Victor the webmaster:
I thank God for giving you the strength, the talents and the dedication
in creating this website. I pray that you will continue to inspire
the others to give themselves to God.
Carol Lim: OH CAROL!!!
It's really funny how FOC main committee brought us together. I
thank you for giving me that listening ear, that shoulder to cry
on when I felt I had no other shoulders to cry on. And I thank you
for being so sincere and always sharing with me the new experiences
gained everyday. I thank God for the loveliness and the ooooooo-soooooooo-cute
you… muakz!
Grace from Science: Amazing
Grace, how sweet the name… Thanks for being there for me when
I was in my lowest points of serving in CSS. Thanks for those staying-overs
at your house, your aunt's shoes, your introduction to contemporary
Christian music and blah… Thanks for providing me that support
I needed and yeah… thanks for all those late-nights BITCHING
(no other word can replace this)!! GOOD BITCHING!! Miss those times
we would sit outside Novena Square at the taxi stand after meetings
to talk…
Irving and Ivan (The
twins that look alike but behave so differently): Somehow, the two
of you have touched me a great deal. You both have given yourselves
incessantly to CSS. No matter how tired and discouraged you feel,
you guys gave your all to God. I thank you for giving me that inspiration
to serve God in CSS.
John Lim (my secretary
in my programs comm.): Thanks for giving another meaning to minutes!
You have definitely added so much of your humour in the minutes
and your efficiency is SUPERB! Thanks for coming down to the FOC
BBQ and for taking time to talk to me! God Bless you and your thesis!
Charlene who just graduated
from Arts and is in LOM: I don't know you that well but I just want
to thank you for talking to me in the library at my favourite table.
You are so friendly and warm. Thanks for giving me that warm glow
in campus.
Max: One sentence: YOU
ARE THE WORST AND THE WORSTEST WORST! Hahahaha… seriously,
thank you for helping me when I was in really deep despair. Thanks
for sending me to the hospital last year and for all those bad times
I had, thanks for being there. You have touched my life a great
deal and has shown me how we can be so simple in giving of ourselves
to God. And thanks for praying for me! It was a very good chat with
you today and be sure to keep in touch ok? God Bless You!
Olivia Goh: I miss those
late nights studying with you at the Central Library and the sour
plums!! You have greatly inspired me with your vast knowledge of
the Catholic faith and of course, the deep faith and conviction
you have. Somehow, you always make things look better when I am
in my lousiest moods. Thank you for praying for me too…
Mother Mary: If there
is any favourite mystery in the Rosary, it had to be the fourth
sorrowful mystery- the carrying of the cross. Thank you for always
listening to my long-winded petitions and interceding to God for
me. Thank you for giving my family and I the fortitude to carry
our crosses. Thank you for helping me to trust in God.
And finally to God: Somehow,
God, You had formed me and You had given me talents to use in CSS.
I thank You for making full use of me. I thank You for all the experiences
I have in CSS and the friends I have made. Without them, CSS in
NUS would have been so different. They have shown me what God is
really like and what He wants from me. Thank You God for always
giving me the strength and the faith in campus. Thank You for looking
up on your humble and unworthy servant.
So, these are the "a
few" friends I have. But anyway, before I end, I pray that
CSS, with the freshies and the seniors would continue to build onto
the Body of Christ. Let us spread God's Glory all over NUS. To God
Be The Glory!
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