Kanektas Youth Ministry - We are One Body in Union with CHRIST! :D

- Kanektas -

"To Bond the youths of St Joseph, building a sense of home and a sense of Belonging to a community of God lovers as we journey Beyond ourselves into an intimate relationship with the infinite love of God."

Kanektas Youth Ministry is the ministry to be in for all youths, especially those who attend St Joseph's Church (Bukit Timah).

We are a family of youths who are connected together in union with Christ and we invite all youths to come and join this family as we grow together in Christ as we journey in life.

- Connect Sessions -

Some of our weekly activities include Connect Sessions which are held every Sunday at 10.30am in the Stable (Youth Room), see the Events' Section for more details.

During our connect sessions we:

Learn more about God, through talks by speakers
Worship & Praise the Lord
Have Connect Groups
Have fellowship together over lunch
worship together

- Praise & Worship -

Here in Kanektas, we believe in connecting through God in many ways, one of them is through music.
St. Augustine said, "When you sing, you pray twice."
And hence we come together every week during our connect sessions to just praise him, worship him & glorify his name; in one voice, in Spirit & in truth to our almighty God.

- Connect Groups -

Our Connect Groups (or cell groups) offers all youths a community to fall back.
Every week, after our Connect Session, we would have our Connect Groups.
This is a time whereby we talk about God, express our opinions on the Connect Session earlier, share about our past week and pray for each another’s needs.

- Camps & Retreats -

Apart from our weekly Connect Sessions and Connect Groups, we also organise camps and retreats which offer youths the opportunity to spend quality time to grow in faith and spiritually, as a community.
And yearly, we plan and run a confirmation camp for them.
Our confirmants will then go through a series of sessions, praise & worship sessions, group sharings and Catholic Charismatic Renewal. This camp has been testified to be a life changing experience by many who attended and many look forward to their turn.

- Community Involvement -

The Kanektas also believe in moving out to a community level, in serving God’s people. Just like Jesus himself, always serving others.

Some of the events we do are:

Running the church’s canteen on scheduled Sundays.
Opening a food stall during our Parish's Feast Day.
Selling rosaries, catholic books, home-baked cookies and bookmarks to raise funds for youths to go for World Youth Day, Sydney.
Car wash in church compounds to raise funds.

- Pilgrimages -

Sometimes, we like to take a journey, not just a physical one, but a spiritual one!
We had a Marian Pilgrimage before, where we would go visit 5 of the Mary churches in Singapore.
And the most recent pilgrimage, is the one we had with the pope, in Sydney during World Youth Duy 2008.

- Outings & Parties -

Here in Kanektas we believe in having FUN too!
And also the welfare of our youths matters! Leading a Singaporean life can be really really hectic. And why not a little fun to relieve ourselves.
Serve God and his people, as a community, together with God, can really work miracles!
To establish a even stronger community, we organise parties & outings for our Kanektas to come together and bond, like our vision, “To bond, belong, beyond.”
Look at all them SMILES! :D

- Mission & Vision -

As we grow as a ministry, as a family, to serve God’s people and to lead those who are yet to know our awesome God to him; we always pray that God will keep us connected together as a family and guide us to forever, as he has always been doing, to keep our vision alive:

To Bond, Belong and Beyond..

Join us and be a part of our family, we would love to connect to you and we're very sure Christ would to.
God bless you.

- History -

The SJConnectors' journey starts with the history of four different ministries. As part of the Connectors, the histories of FACES, FIESTA, FLOOD and FAITH intertwine to create the legacy of the SJConnectors.

Faces Drama Ministry's journey started in Dec 2002. With a group of just 3 people, and has ever since extended its family to about 20 people. Their first project was the Youth Mass that was celebrated in the Youth camp of 2002. Thereafter, in January 2003, we had sessions every Sunday and we undertook a project on Fiesta Night. As we got in the swing of things, the drama group had a stall in the Feast Day 03. Finally on Pentecost 2003, Fiesta Night, the drama group gave its first public performance held in the church hall. The period of June-November 03 was a time of re-looking at our mission and vision of the ministry where we want to spread God's word through dramatic forms. December 2003 marked our 1st anniversary and our first drama group retreat too. The name FACES first came into existence in that month. Christmas was celebrated with the performance of our play Finding Jesus, Christmas reloaded. 2004 picked up where we left off with a skit in Peace Rally 04. In May 04, we participated in the Feast day variety show too. That period after also marked the restructure of the Drama ministry.

Almost during the same period, Flood Music Ministry was formed in the later half of 2003. Adriel Cheng (Guitarist& Vocalist), Christopher See (Drums) and Gerard Richards (Lead Guitarist) had already been playing Christian Praise and Worship (PnW) songs for the alter servers in camp Unitas 2002. They also played for the Youth Mass held in July 2003. With the addition of Alfred Rojes (Bassist), they collaborated with Faces Drama Ministry on Pentecost 2003 in the drama play. Then they helped out in the youth and confirmation camp in the same year. On December 20th 2003, they came under the name Flood Music Ministry together with Joseph Lim (Keyboardist) to lead PnW for the Youth Open House. Flood then continued playing for Peace Rally 2004 and has been playing for every youth mass since then.

Fiesta Service Ministry had its humble beginnings as part of the initial idea to have the Youth to run the canteen. The first Pasar Pagi held on the 5th October 2003 marked the beginning of Fiesta. It became to coordinating arm of the ministry that ran 3 canteens thereafter. Florence was installed as its Head of 2004 and renamed Fiesta Service Ministry. In July 2004, the restructure of the Youth Ministry meant that all 3 ministries were reorganized into one body, with different functions. Fiesta became the external arm of the ministry where it dealt with co-ordinating all events and outreach of the ministry. It also will deal with the internal affairs of the ministry as well. FACES and FLOOD remain part of the evangelistic spirit of the Connectors, putting the talents gifted to them in song and action in the mission of furthering God's kingdom of love on earth. FAITH prayer ministry came into existence in this time and they represent the spiritual fountain we need to sustain ourselves as they co-ordinate all the spiritual activities of the ministry. As we grow, we pray that we will forever keep our vision of the SJConnectors alive: To Bond, Belong and Beyond.

SJC Kanektas

Testimonies
Confirmation Camp / YISS / LISS | God in our Everyday | Conversion Stories

Got a testimony to share?
Send them to kanektas.youth.ministry@gmail.com.

- Confirmation Camp -

My Experience with God
by Christian

It's been quite some time since my confirmation camp. I've learnt so much that I never thought I would have. I learnt and even experienced God's love for me. This camp has given me a chance to change my ways and have a new lease of life. I've stopped all my addictions and bad habits, and even read the bible!

The most meaningful verse I have read is the one my confirmation camp facilitator shared with me. 2 Corinthians 5:7. "We live by faith, not by sight". I still sometimes question the things that God does or why he does them. But I do know that he will forever love me no matter what wrong that I do.

It's been very hard for me to remove all scepticism that I have with the Faith. It says in the bible in James 1:6-8, "But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways."

I had a talk with one of my facilitators during one of the lunches at the camp. The talk we had really touched me because I have NEVER talked to someone so in depth about my problems before. I felt very uncomfortable at first but I managed to open up and actually tell someone about it. All the time when I had these problems, I kept everything to myself. I lived in a world of secrecy and lies. Every time there was an event or function that was joyous like Christmas or my birthday, the thought of my problems would come out and would cause me a lot of pain, hurt and distress. I never really fully enjoyed anything to the fullest as the happiness would be hindered by the bad things that I do. Now I know that I do not have to keep everything to myself, I now know that I will be able to enjoy everything to the fullest. Thank you, Theresa for really hearing me out and lending me a listening ear. Every time I feel like giving in or succumbing to temptation, I think of you and the things we talked about, and it really helps me persevere more to try and not give in.

There were things in the camp that honestly, I didn't really like at the start. Such as Praise and Worship sessions and Quiet Time. I didn't see any point in jumping and singing along with the band performing. Furthermore, the frequent sitting and standing took a toll on my ankles as they started to hurt. I would go into the Praise and Worship sessions with my hands folded, standing in a corner waiting for it to be over. The "Quiet Time" also seemed like a waste of time for me as I would just walk around waiting. The 30 minutes of Quiet Time seemed to feel like 30 hours. Then, after the healing, my view on the whole thing changed. I felt the usefulness of the 30 minutes of Quiet Time. It was a time that I would privately for myself to pray and know more about God. During Praise and Worship sessions, I even started jumping to the music and singing along. Now I think back at how I felt before and how I feel now, it truly is a miracle that my perception of these activities in the camp changed.

I've learnt that no matter what problems you have, God hears them and will help you in all possible ways he can. The feeling I experienced during The Healing in the confirmation camp was amazing. I felt all my problems, addictions and bad habits being taken away and i felt a sense of happiness and peace. I’d like to thank Ernest, Marco, Nicholas and Justin for talking to me in those wee hours of the morning. You guys really helped me get through my problems and addictions. You guys opening up to me also made me feel that i wasn't alone with the problems that I have. Thank you guys soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much for being there with me...I really really really really appreciate it. Praise God and may He shower his abundant blessings on you all. God bless.

Remember, GOD LOVES US, and never ever forget that.

Christian Russell Teo
SJC Confirmant '07

‘Magical’- It’s just the beginning of the journey
by Ronney

It was a week of examinations and a hectic week of intense preparation. Full of dreads and complains was I, about wasting 3 ‘precious’ days at a camp just before my examinations. I was full of worries, with little confidence about doing well for my Prelims. Still, with little choice, I had to get out of bed that very morning to make my appearance in church for that camp, the camp that I had to attend in order to ‘graduate’ from those dreaded, early morning Sunday classes.

All those rejoicing, jumping and worship sessions disturbs me, especially the praise and worship sessions you see at the Singapore Expo every weekend? It was more like a concert to me. These things I said, might trigger similar thoughts in you too, am I right? It’ll change.

It will, only if you ‘surrender’. That is if you believe, if you let go, if you take off that blindfold, which you’ve been wearing till this very day. Just as I shared in my testimony as I shared in the retreat, no one can convince you about ‘his’ existence, not me, neither will it be your parents nor your parish priest. Only you will have the option to believe and that happens only after you’ve ‘experienced’ it.

It is useless or pointless to explain what I’ve discovered or learnt, but it is worthwhile if I can convince you to open up, give it a try, give it a shot, go and experience ‘him’, that is to spend some ‘quiet time’. It’s worthwhile; you’ll testify to that, I’m sure.

Your life will change. This may sound absurd, but your burdens become a joy and I can testify to that. Gone are those frustrations you always feel, the very little things that make you vexed, stressed or lose your temper. Now, there is only but a smile on me and I realized everyone out there returns that simple, yet powerful gesture. So after all, it wasn’t the people out there who were grumpy, unfriendly, crude or rude; perhaps it was me, with that glum and unhappy look always.

I didn’t believe, maybe I still don’t. Yet, I do not mind giving it a try, to pray. I mean, you do not lose anything to try am I right? When it works, you feel it; it’s just something that you cannot describe, but you feel different. When it does, you finally understand all those rejoicing, all those praise and worship. It puzzles me still, but that joy comes from inside of me and I do not know why. That rejoicing and thanksgiving becomes so personal, you do not know what the people around you are doing. You do not know why you raise your hands up; you do not know why you can sing your heart out like never before. It’s a joy that you cannot explain nor justify.

I am not asking you to believe, I’m just hoping that you’ll open up. Give it a try. That’s all. Just let the experience fill you. The 3 days were ‘precious’ in a different way, a more meaningful and impactful one.

My life has changed, when will yours?

Ronney Nicholas Tan
SJC Confirmant '07

- Daily Miracles -

A Special Day in my life
by Adeline It is definitely to one's surprise to receive the following SMS in the middle of the night.. The 1st thing you see when you open your eyes, with the no. being an unknown:

Scripture says:"The Lord Himself will lead you and guide you in all that you do; He will be with you always and will never fail you or desert you. Do not be afraid and be alarmed." (Deuteronomy 31:8) I pray that you may be strengthen in the Lord's promise and His Love for you. God bless you always, Adeline!

Yes, I am really surprised.. and frankly, I am really really very very inspired and motivated.. Suddenly felt relieved.. I need it at the right moment. Initially I thought this sms was sent by Jeremy (a church friend) or perhaps one of the members frm church but to my surprise, this sms was sent by a present class mate of mine, Jonathon. I was wondering how he knew I needed this.. because I had since then, only sent email to Jeremy & the Parish Office, to seek "directions".. But somebody, whom had never discussed about religion with you, actually sent this to me. Well, he could have read my msgs somewhere.. but he just said he will tell me more when there is time. Yes, I will just wait. Anyway, Jonathan, if you are reading this, I juz wanna say a BIG THANK U to you...

Well, in the evening before my accounting exam, I had actually sent a sms to Godma, asking her to help to pray for me for my exam.. You know what she replied?

Godma: Ok I will lift up pray 4 U may d Lord B w U at every moment keep talking to Him. ask Him give u d answer.

& guess what's my reply? I replied, "hahaha..!ya..will ask Him for answers.. :P "

Haha!! Well, I don't know what is the reason behind it, I noticed a silly smile on my face whenever I do something after reading this sms. I will just smile with myself and talk to God repeatedly.. Ya.. even when I am doing my exam quests, I would ask, "God, how to do this quest? Is it this way? How come cannot get the answer?" Haha! I just keep smiling with myself and giggle quietly.. I felt very relieved and light- hearted.. Not stressed at all.. Perhaps it is because I felt that the Spirit is back.. It is back by my side, watching me through... & I am enjoying its companionship.. I am no longer lonely..

Just some deep-in-my-hearts thoughts: I really appreciate Godma's effort in seeing me through my confirmation despite being so stressful at work.. reprimands frm superiors.. standard expectations.. She is already so stressed up by so many things & yet she still finds time to talk to me & motivate me.. God had really sent me the right gift, the right person.. I really pray to you, Lord, pls help to take care of Godma.. She is catching up with age & I really hope she does not get so tensed up.. Pls help her to "relax-a-bit" because it hurts me to feel her muscles so stiff & tight when I helped to massage her back last wkend.

That is all frm me for now... gtg catch some rest before I start to mug for my Statistics..

Last but not least,
Thank you Godma & Jonathan.. for making my day such a SPECIAL ONE..

Adeline Lourdes Tan
SJC parishioner

He is healing me..
by Adeline

2wks after her fall, Godma accompanied me to a SCCARE healing rally held at Church of Chirst the King. I really appreciate her companionship because it was really my 1st time & she still make it a point to turn up with me despite her pain & time constraint. A soft whisper into my ear, "Adeline, whatever you have in you, just pour it all out. Just give all to God." I was more surprised when I heard her told one of her friends, "She has a very heavy burden which she needs to let go of.." I called Cynthia the next day to ask if she had ever told her anything about me but she just said she told her in a v general way.. not so specific.. & tt was like abt 5-6mths ago when I was posted out of CCK?? I am really surprise..

Yes, I had a very strange feeling in between the session & I told Godma tt I actually felt v weak.. warm.. strengthless.. & giddy.. Godma told me tt God is healing me.. juz tt I had not surrendered myself to Him totally. Godma had encouraged me to go for more healing sessions.. Well, Godma had introduced her friend to me during the healing rally. His name is Uncle Matthew & surprisingly, he lives around my area. & he is really great. He is selfless & generous & had shared many things with me.. prayer booklets, cards etc.. I really appreciate his help in guiding me thro my spiritual life.

2wks after the healing rally, I joined Jonathan at CTK's weekly Charistmatic Prayer group session. I had a v special feeling. The pain in my back for the past 2wks or so was gone, totally gone! after I lifted it up to Him. But sad to say, the pain was back few days later due to my resentful thoughts. Oh no.. & the pain was really terrible.. I couldn't bend & I couldn't stretch.. a ctn of apple used to be "nothing" to me.. but now.. Its heavy.. When I lied on the sofa/ bed & just adjusted my position, I could feel my bones "cracking".. There are sounds too.. Its really terrible but I believe Lord God will be there to help me ease my pain.

For 2 times, I had asked God to help me to heal me of my past. I really need to forget about my past so tt I can carry on with my life more meaningfully.. But 2 times I failed.. I failed because I failed to surrender myself to Him.. There is this angel & devil thing in me.. Here I am, trying to pray earnestly.. but there comes another voice who keep asking, "oh, is it? oh, r u sure? oh, who is this Jesus? Are you sure?"

Pls God.. Pls do not bring me to the test.. but deliver us frm evil..

God, pls show me the way where You want me to go.. Pls help me, for I am feeling helpless.. I see the lighthouse but I do not know how to swim towards it.. Pls guide me.. Pls God.. I ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, One God forever & ever. Amen.

Adeline Lourdes Tan
SJC parishioner

He protects me from all harm
by Adeline

I was late for work last week (forgotten when). I was supposed to report to work at 4.45am but I ended up waking up at 5am. By the time I reach my store, its already 5.25am.

So, what is so special about being late for work?

This happened 2 years ago, when I was serving SNS GR (before posted out).

At that time, I was NEVER late for work. I always reach work early and will often be the one to wait for my staff to come. However, there was this day (one and only day) when I woke up terribly late. Similarly, I woke up at 5am and arrived at work at 5.30am. To my horror, the Guardian Pharmacy (located next to our store) was broke in. The shutter was tampered with and was half opened. I called the police immediately.

From what I gathered frm Loss Prevention Officer, LPO Daniel, (after investigation) the act was done at about 4.20am- 4.35am or so. That was the timing when I will usually be outside the store waiting for my staff to turn up. I am really touched that He let me had a such a nice sleep, and let me be late for work.. For He planned to protect me. . I do not know what possible dangers I may have if the thieves got to see me standing outside.

Praise the Lord. Trust Him for He has plans for you.

Adeline Lourdes Tan
SJC parishioner

- Conversion Stories -

Coming soon.
Got any? Send them to kanektas.youth.ministry@gmail.com.

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