On 27 Dec 2018, Council gathered for an informal fellowship dinner: “An evening of Togetherness for God’s servants” in appreciation of Council’s work the past year and to celebrate the beginning of the coming new year. It was a good opportunity for council members to have fellowship and bond.
The Annual DoR for CLG members, led by Lance Ng, was held on the 18th Aug 2018 at Cana Centre. The theme for the DoR was an “Introduction to Authentic Conversation”. Lance guided us to Listen (i) to the self, (ii) to another, (iii) to God, (iv) in a group, (v) from the Center, and (vi) to be affected. He shared with us a guide to prayer: The Awareness Examen by St. Ignatius of Loyola.
On 22 July 2018, CLG was represented at the Caritas Leaders’ Informal Dinner with Cardinal Peter Turkson. An important takeaway from the day was that the development of the human person is integral i.e. the emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual. This means that as members of the legal profession, especially in our workplace, we have to be Christ and see Christ in others. We do this by treating others with dignity and working for the common good of all.
Held on 5 May 2018 at CANA Centre and conducted by Michelle Voo, 12 Young lawyers attended the Young Lawyers’ Afternoon away with God as “Heavenly Advocates”. The theme was on the Holy Spirit and was based on how the Holy Spirit features in our lives. The main takeaway for the day was that the Holy Spirit is a gentle presence, just like how the priest prays for God to send His spirit “like the dewfall” upon the Eucharistic offerings.
This workshop, conducted on the 14th April 2018, was organised by the Archdiocese in conjunction with Catholic SG. It was attended by over 60 participants including the laity and members from the various religious orders. As part of the workshop, Michelle Voo delivered a talk titled “Truth? What is Truth? The Challenge of Fake News in the Church”.
Held at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd on 12th January 2018, the Mass was presided by Msgr. Ambroze Vaz and con-celebrated by Msgr. Philip Heng, Fr. Adrian Yeo, Fr. John Bosco and Fr. Stanislaus Pang. There was turnout of about 150 members from the judiciary and bench with 120 staying for the dinner fellowship thereafter.
Front Row: Lucella Jeraled, Audrey Liaw, Michelle Voo, Peggy Yee, Ian De Vaz, Steve Ngo, Susie (Administrator), Rosanna Mak
Back Row: Ben Frois, Sarjeet Singh, Angela Ng, Jevon Louis, Michelle Ng, Cosmas Gomez, Brown Peraira, Joseph Perez, David Nayar
The Catholic Lawyers’ Guild will be having our 17th Annual General Meeting on Thu 14th Mar 2019 at 6.30 PM. It will be held at the Annex Level Three of the Catheral of the Good Shepherd. All members are invited to join us for this AGM. Follow the AGM, Mr Peter Low wil be sharing his faith journey over the last 41 years, not to be missed!
RSVP for the CLG 17th Annual AGM
CLG 17th Anniversary Red Mass – 11 Jan 2019
The Catholic Lawyers Guild sought blessings for the sanctity of its members work, at the beginning of 2019, by celebrating its 17th Anniversary Red Mass at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.
It was a spirit filled Mass, with more “spirit” flowing at the dinner and fellowship after Mass, which was attended by some 150 of the legal fraternity in Singapore, from the Bench, the Bar, Executive, Corporate Counsel, non working non practicing lawyers and law students.
Paul and Kathy Rodgers, who found out about the CLG when answering the call to serve in CLG Pro Bono mediation
Blessings invoked on legal fraternity during Red Mass
Msgr Ambrose Vaz blessing members of the legal profession at the Red Mass on Jan 12.
The special mission that members of the legal fraternity play in society was highlighted during a special Mass on Jan 12.
“We especially need you in society and the Church to bring truth and justice to the people; and truth and justice are not concepts but a person – Jesus Christ,” Msgr Ambrose Vaz told about 130 members of the legal profession during the Mass at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.
To do this, they need to have a relationship with God so that He will be the centre of their lives, and this will help them discern His will for them and the people they serve, said Msgr Vaz at the annual “Red Mass” organised by the Catholic Lawyers Guild (CLG).
Msgr Vaz also thanked the CLG for its pro bono legal services to the needy.
The Red Mass invokes the Holy Spirit’s guidance on the legal profession and the intercession of its patron saint, St Thomas More, a martyr.
The first recorded “Red Mass” was celebrated in 1245 in Paris. As the liturgical colour for votive masses of the Holy Spirit and martyrs is red, the celebration became popularly known as the Red Mass.
The highlight of the Mass was the Prayer to St Thomas More by CLG members and Msgr Vaz’s laying-on of hands over them to invoke the gifts and blessings of the Holy Spirit.
Gifts were brought up by members of CLG during the Offertory
During the offertory, together with the gifts of bread and wine, the scales of justice, the White Book (the Rules of the Supreme Court) and a lawyer’s court robe were brought to the altar by the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Deputy Attorney-General Lionel Yee, a senior practising lawyer, a junior practising lawyer and a law student respectively.
The lector, cantor, commentator, pianist and choir were also all members of the legal profession.
CLG President Peggy Yee presenting CLG work over dinner
At a dinner after Mass, CLG president Peggy Yee shared how the organisation had held members’ retreats and prayer meetings last year and is planning a workshop this year. Last year, the CLG assisted with 138 cases of legal advice, 14 cases of legal representation and two mediation cases, all pro bono, she noted.
Commenting on the celebration, Ms Sonia Rajendra, a first-year Singapore Management University law student said: “Seeing the unity and commitment of the legal community gave me such a sense of belonging!”
Sr Sylvia Maria Ng, an executive officer of the Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerant People (ACMI) to which CLG renders pro bono legal consultation services, said she is “thankful that our Catholic lawyers are striving to ensure that God becomes the foundation and focal point of their legal ministry”.
“My prayers are with them,” said the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary nun.
CLG is a member organisation of Caritas Singapore from which this article is extracted from. (FB CARITAS SINGAPORE)
For more information on the Catholic Lawyers Guild, call 6801-7494 or email admin@clgsingapore.com.
FEBRUARY 04, 2018, Vol 68, No 03
The Catholic Lawyers Guild (CLG) provides mutual support and encouragement among lawyers for the sanctification of their professional work, as well as the provision of legal assistance to the church and persons in need.
1. To function as a non-profit organization with chiefly spiritual aims, namely to assist its members, who are lawyers, or legally trained persons professing the Catholic faith, to obtain sanctity in the profession, through the practice of Christian virtues.
2. To help newly qualified or graduated Catholic lawyers realize their profession as a noble calling of their faith.
3. To render assistance and offer knowledge or opinion to lay persons in the matters of the Catholic faith and the law.
4. To render assistance to the Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Singapore.
If you are facing a legal issue on:
1. A personal matter (investment, business and professional matters are not covered) and
2. Have never sought legal advice before, and/or
3. Unable afford a lawyer,
You may call us to make an appointment for free basic legal advice at our Legal Clinics.
Our Legal Clinics are intended for the poor, disadvantaged and sandwiched classes and is open to all regardless of religious faith or nationality. Please note that CLG reserves the right to turn down requests for appointments by applicants who fail to meet the criteria for free legal advice or for any other reason.
Registration is required. To register for an appointment, please click below to complete the e-appointment form (which will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete).
After registering, an appointment will be arranged for you to meet one of our lawyers at our Legal Clinics.
REGISTER FOR AN APPOINTMENT
Our Legal Clinics are open from 6.30 PM – 9.00 PM on the following Mondays in 2019 at the following 5 locations:
• Every 1st Monday of the Month – St. Teresa’s Church at 510 Kampung Bahru Road, Singapore 099446
• Every 2nd and 4th Monday of the Month – AGAPE Village at 7A Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, Singapore 319264.
• Every 2nd Monday of the Month – Church of the Divine Mercy at 19 Pasir Ris St 72, Singapore 518771
• Every 3rd Monday of the Month – St Joseph’s Church (Bukit Timah) at 620 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 678116
• Every 4th Monday of the Month – Holy Family Church at 6 Chapel Road, Singapore 429509
PATRON SAINT:
St Thomas More
PAST PRESIDENTS:
Mr Jimmy Yim SC
Mr Ivan Lee
PATRON:
Most Rev Msgr William Goh, D.D., STL
President – Peggy Sarah Yee
Vice President – Ian De Vaz
Vice President – Michelle Voo
Secretary – Cosmas Gomez
Asst Secretary – Lucella Jeraled
Treasurer – Sarjeet Singh
Asst Treasurer – Brown Pereira
Co-opted Council Members
Auditors: Constance Paglar
Auditors: Angela Ng
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