looking for stillness
I went to St Mary of the Angels, a beautiful award-winning Catholic church in Bukit Batok, done by RSP ArchitectsWOHA. The central feature in all Catholic churches is the altar from which the Eucharist is conducted. The pulpits and other lecterns are typically at the sides 
from which the Word is read in public and proclaimed. But in this sanctuary, the pulpit is behind the altar on higher ground and the
baptismal fount is in front of the altar. The symbolism spoke volumes of what the church leaders believed. And above all these, suspended in air is the human suffering Christ, not on the cross as in most of their churches, but in the air, as if in resurrection or ascension.
Wanted a quiet place to still and quieten my soul. “I have stilled and quieted myself, like a weaned child with its mother, so is my soul within me.”The sanctuary was not empty as the vacuum cleaners were humming and some folks were conversing at the back. So I went to look for a chapel, but not before meeting Edward, a deaf member who left the deaf church months ago. He was one of the cleaners.
I found a lovely Adoration Chapel. It was air-conditioned and spired up to the electronic church bell. I saw a plaque which listed the donors: Daisy Khoo……hmm, late wife of the late Khoo Teck Puat, richest man in Singapore just years back. I had time to be still and quiet. I needed it as my thoughts were rushing to and fro like MRT trains searching for a station to stop. After some time of waiting in silence, my lovely space was intruded by the deaf brother, who showed me a message, a humorous one I think, which he typed on his mobile for me: “Have you converted to Catholic?” “Have you left World Revival Prayer Fellowship?”
12 comments May 7th, 2007
