He was posted to my parish, i.e Holy Cross Church, as soon as he was ordained as a priest a few years ago. His homily was always meaningful, added with a touch of humour and local touch. I could feel the amount of attention the parishioners gave to him whenever it was his turn to give the homily. He never fails to sparkle his homily with his jokes, which were funny, yet so inspiring to all the peoples of faith in the church. There was never a dull moment whenever he opens his mouth to talk. So last Sunday, being his last Mass to be celebrated with the parishioners of Holy Cross Church, again, he shared with us this very meaningful and humorous story about his days at the seminary...
"I wasn't the best student in the seminary and faced a lot of difficulties, just like any human beings... One day, I went to the statue of Mother Mary to ask her to pray for me... As the eyes of Mother Mary were scupltured in a way that they were looking up into the sky, I was thinking...Mother, why don't you just look at me for a second, poor child of God, wanting some help here. Why don't you just look at me!!!... After asking her to pray for me, I realised why her eyes were looking into the sky... She was actually telling me to look up into heaven, where Our Lord is, to pray and seek His guidance! It was then that I realised that in many traumatic times in our lives, we easily forgot to look up to God and seek his strength!"
Wow, it was so enlightening and so true! Whenever we faced problems, we like to throw tantrums, put the blame on others, etc...We seldom turn to God and say..."Lord, please help me!" Father Iggy, as Father Ignatious is commonly known, then went on and shared this song with us..."If we hold on together". It brought tears to my eyes as I pondered the wonderful times I have shared with Father Iggy on Sundays. He stressed on the importance of looking up to peoples, like Mother Mary, who always obey God and Jesus Christ(especially when she said "Yes" to God's using her body to conceive Jesus and other events when she obey totally to her son during their lives in Jerusalem) , to improve our relationship with God and to be true disciple of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
On Sunday, when it was time for us to go up to the altar to receive communion, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it was Father Iggy who was going to give me the communion. I told myself at that moment that God has indeed showered me with so much grace that I'm not going to be a bad boy anymore!!(Easier said than done! But I'm trying hard to be one!) It's a pity you cannot be my celebrant at my church wedding. But my thoughts will be with you on that day. With that, I bid goodbye to my most beloved priest while all I had now are those beautiful memories I had with him and a card that was specially given to us by you... Father Ignatius Yeo. Thank you Father, take care wherever you are and I look forward to you serving in our parish once again...
My mum, who had the honoured of being baptised by Fr Iggy.
If We Hold On Together
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't lose your way with each passing day
You've come so far don't throw it away
Live believing dreams are for weaving
Wonders are waiting to start
Live your story Faith, Hope & Glory
Hold on to the truth in your heart.
If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
Where clouds roll by
For you and I.
Souls and the wind must learn how to bend
Seek out a star hold on to the end
Valley, mountain there is a fountain
Washes our tears all away
Words are swaying
Someone is praying
Please let us come home to stay.
If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
Where clouds roll by
For you and I.
When we are out there in the dark
We'll dream about the sun
In the dark we'll feel the light
Warm our hearts,Every one.
If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
As high as souls can fly
The clouds roll by
For you and I.
YNWA @ 3:09 PM
