“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?” (Matt 16:26)
In His life, St Francis Xavier had planned to be a lecturer but experienced a deep conversion and surrendered his life to Christ as a priest. Like our patron, St Francis Xavier, we too may sometimes feel unworthy or ill-equipped. Yet God calls each of us to a unique mission — to proclaim the Gospel and love others as Christ has loved us.
After Jesus’ ascension, His apostles had the important mission of spreading the Good News. Through the laying on of hands and the gift of the Holy Spirit, the apostles entrusted this mission to their successors. Today, bishops, priests and deacons continue Christ's ministry through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. In the tradition of the apostles, they lead the Church and faithfully carry on the mission that Christ entrusted to His apostles.
Through the Rite of Ordination, men called to ordained ministry receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. There are three degrees of the Sacrament of Holy Orders: bishop, priest, and deacon.
A bishop is the head of the local Church. The local area entrusted to him is called a diocese.
A priest serves God's people in various ways such as these:
- Celebrates Holy Mass, baptisms, weddings, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and funerals.
- Offers spiritual guidance and pastoral care.
- Shepherds a parish together with staff and volunteers.
- Teaches in Catholic schools and religious education programmes.
- Visits the sick, the dying, and the homebound.
A Deacon is ordained for service in the Church. They proclaim the Gospel, teach, preach, baptise, witness marriages, assist at the altar, and serve those in need. Some are transitional deacons preparing for the priesthood, while others are permanent deacons — including married men — who are called to lifelong ministry in the Church.
God calls each person in a unique way. If you sense that He may be calling you to the priesthood, religious life, or another form of consecrated life, begin by praying, participating regularly in the Sacraments, and speaking with a priest or spiritual director. Discernment is a journey of listening to God's voice with an open heart. Explore the different vocations within the Church and trust that He will lead you according to His loving plan. Visit Catholic.sg website to explore vocation stories, discernment resources, and upcoming events.
God desires each of us to live life to the full. Jesus says, "I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." (John 10:10–11) Trust the Good Shepherd to lead you. Wherever He calls, the Church is here to pray for you, accompany you, and walk with you in your discernment.
“Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1)
A Life of Joyful Service
The priesthood is more than a profession — it is a vocation. Priests dedicate their lives to bringing people closer to Christ through the celebration of the Sacraments, the preaching of the Gospel, and pastoral care. Though the path requires generosity and sacrifice, it is also a life filled with deep joy, purpose, and the privilege of witnessing God's grace at work in the lives of others.
Becoming Fathers
Watch the ordination videos of the sons of our parish who have generously answered God's call to the priesthood.
Fr Jude David | Fr Terence Kesavan
Vocation Journeys
Discover the vocation stories of our priests and learn how they discerned God's call through the Archdiocese of Singapore, the Carmelite Order, and the ICPE Mission (Institute for World Evangelisation):
- Rev Fr Timothy Soo (Ordained 2025, Archdiocese of Singapore) | Video
- Rev Fr Shawn Wong (Ordained 2025, ICPE Mission) | Video
- Rev Fr Bartolo Maria, OCD (Ordained 2023, Carmelites)
Other Vocation Journeys @ SFX
Read about other vocation journeys our sister have courageously stepped towards.
If we missed out any, let us know at mmm@sfxchurch.sg